Garmin - Forerunner 955 Solar

I have it for more than 2 years now. I have the 955 solar, but the solar is not useful as it needs many hours to charge only a little. Only when really low on energy and no charger it might give you a few extra hours of life when placed in the sun. My main disappointment was the maps feature. I've tried planning bicycle routes on it but failed completely, it always errors out with no route to be found. I did preload some routes, but that's too much hassle in general. Pairing it with my phone using Google maps and the Garmin gmaps app is 1000x more user friendly though. The music feature together with the screen was the main selling point for me.

My 955 solar will easily last 48 hours and it’s 3 or 4 years old. 

955 Solar. Jack of all trades. It’s my 3rd FR, 6th Garmin device (also have had Edge devices for cycling). Not to mention HR straps. Personally love it.

For getting back into running, I used the 955 solar, and the HRM pro plus, which gives you not only good HR data, but also data on how your left and your right is balanced, stride, etc, which is interesting and helps you avoid injuries better.

To be honest, I think so but I'm not as convinced as the others here ;) I own the 955 solar myself and still really DO like it a lot and yes, I still think it's easily worth the 350-400... (So actually, perhaps I am as convinced afterall.). But it IS already almost 3 years old, they will support it for a longer time of course but it is expected the 975 will be released within 2-3 months and that's one I'm kinda waiting for. I like mips a lot, and it surely has it's advantages (great in sunlight, subtle, energy efficient)... But so does oled (vibrant, sharper, more content on screen). So it's worth it for sure still, it is a great watch, but indeed for me the fact it's almost 3 years old in combination with other developments now makes it less of an instant jump. Then again, any new watch will be at least in the range of 600 or so so in that sense a completely different ballpark.

Yeah, but still.. The 965 was basically an amoled 955 which is not enough of a difference for me, I'm hoping a possible 975 will have more upgrades... Thinking of a new elevate hr sensor, gps chipset, improved soc, who knows... As said, still happy with the 955 but if there are enough upgrades making the jump worth it I'll seriously think about it.

I got mine recently after an instinct 2. 955 is cheaper and lighter Fenix7 . Great value and does all the things a fenix 7 would do.

I got mine recently after an instinct 2. 955 is cheaper and lighter Fenix7 . Great value and does all the things a fenix 7 would do.

I got mine past year and it’s still getting updates. I bought 955 solar and I’m loving it. It’s like a fenix 7 on a budget and the maps are great. I recently got the lifestyle logging as well. It does pretty much everything and with the MIP DISPLAY lasts about two weeks recording workouts and stuff.

Agree. I picked up 955 solar on eBay a month and a half ago. Best value on the Garmin offerings.

$270 with shipping and tax

I have a Garmin 955 solar my daughter has the 265s but my wife is much less into running than we are and she has the Fitbit versa four or three I forget which one whatever the latest one is, you could probably get by with the Fitbit and pro tip you can pick up new ones all the time on Facebook marketplace for like $60 versa four we got for $60 you can find Fitbit charge 6 for $60 all over the place at least where I'm located. The one I bought for my wife was brand new in the box $60

I’ve got a 955 solar and, given we’re heading into the dark months, I’ll be flicking my wrist to activate the light during runs for weeks on end. In reality I’d love a 970 but I haven’t stumped up for it yet. The 955 is a very good watch. The mips is fine, but amoled looks nicer. The longer battery life might be a benefit - depends how often your willing to charge it and what you want to do.

I’ve got a 955 solar. It’s been perfect. I charge about once every week, running 4 to 6?days a week. My only problem is that I scratched and chipped the glass slightly about 3 weeks ago in a ‘tumble’. Still working fine though! It’s nice and light. Couldn’t bear a fenix

I just did, upgraded from fenix 6s to 955 solar Loving it so far !

Was pretty much in the same situation as you, trying to find the best value, reading all the reviews etc. Seems like they are all great watches with the maps/navigation and screen type being the biggest differences. I found a 955 Solar on Marketplace for $400 and went for it. MIP screen is great, no issues with it at all. I will be buying a nylon band to go with it though, not a fan of the silicone for all day wear.

Truly the last MIPs display 9xx forerunners. It's great and has the juice to last more than 7hrs of running. GPS is very accurate for me. The solar edition isn't all that great since it doesn't charge but delays battery use. Has only up to 7 data fields. A very light weight watch that I sometimes can't tell if I am wearing it or not without looking at my wrist. Not having a strap quick release is a bit of a bummer. 9/10 for me.

Hi, I own forerunner 970(before that multiple forerunner devices 945, 955 solar, 965) fenixes(6 pro, 7 solar, 7 pro, 8) and edge 1050(before 530 and 830), also im reviewer for suunto in my country. Based on cycling, its ok... i mean it never will be dedicated bike computerm but its ok, U can pair multiple sensors. Power sensor works ok, but U can't set avg power counting with 0 or not like in garmin. About app, its really nice, even it shows peak power and speed for 30sec, 1min, 3min, and 5min. I had it before launch to this day and it is pretty stable(also i never experienced losing training session on garmin). About indoor cycling, smart trainers are not supported and I hope this will change soon because garmin in top in this matter. For running its also great Now there are some diffrences between app and watch with recovery metrics at this moment

The 165 is a very bare bones running watch. If you want better battery life, more metrics and AMOLED screen go w the 265, but the 955 is a VERY good watch w essentially all the bells and whistles as the 965 sans amoled. There is a handy little comparison tool on garmin website so you can side by side the specs, though. Welcome to the cult!

Go with a 955 solar and call it a day. It has all the metrics and you will get battery life to boot if you’re getting sunshine on it for 10K a day

I always recommend getting a Garmin off fb market. I bought a new 945 in 2018 and they replaced it like 6 years later when the charging port started acting up. I sold it and both a used 955 solar. It had an issue and they replaced it even though i was the second user.

I don't think of my 955 Solar as a 'smart watch.' I don't have it on wireless, don't have it synced to my phone, and I avoid product like that. If you want a watch that syncs to your iPhone and lets you talk to people while you stroll about, get an apple watch! if you want sports data and to train, get a garmin. not so hard, eh?

If you haven’t already, try reaching out to Garmin customer service. They offered to replace my 955 solar screen for $60 when I scratched it. If I remember correctly I was out of warranty when I scratched it.

Bought the 955 Solar over 2 years ago, and it is fantastic. I use it for running every day. I see no need to upgrade (I like the MIP, no need for anything brighter) and I could imagine having this watch for another 5 years without wanting to upgrade. Maybe it won't last that long, but honestly I didn't think they made electronics like this anymore that don't go obsolete in 18 months.

Hi, I too did alot of research and ended up with the Garmin 955 solar. My main focus was battery life and didn’t care to use my watch as a phone like I believe Apple would have been. I’m enjoying it and all of the sport features. My only concern is that the step tracker seems to be a bit off or maybe the Fitbit I used in the past was overly sensitive and counting too many steps?! Anyways if you google forerunner 955 videos there are some nice ones. Good luck!

I've had a 955 solar since 2023. The battery life is great. It's easy to read in sunshine and in the dark even at 1/2 brightness I've never had an issue. While the new screens are pretty they use more power and can be difficult in some conditions. When training I only glace at the watch quickly and have no problem getting the info I need. Spotify requires a premium account and then you download you playlists etc to the watch. Then you can listen offline. It works well. I usually pick up a month long subscription to cover a marathon. Other than that I often load audiobooks or my own music to the watch for use in training runs. This option is free if you already have the files. It's great for when I don't have my phone with me. Given that you are thinking of training for multi sport events I think Garmin might work better for you since it is setup to track things like tri.

I bought a FR970 but sold it and went back to FR955 solar. I couldn't handle the AMOLED, even at low light. Must be an individual vision thing. For reference I can see the Soap Opera effect on TVs and have to turn that off. Now thinking of Fenix 8 solar..

I had the 955 solar for "testing" for nearly 2 years, and I'd buy it again in a heartbeat, if I could. Such a great device.

I bought a 955 solar three months ago (45% off sale!) and I have zero complaints. In fact I only use a small portion of the features. But I love the mips screen and the long battery life. No complaints other than it is difficult to find indoor bikes and exercise equipment that pair with it.

An Australian retailer called Rebel Sport. They had a sale in October 2024 for a few days. I've recently started jogging again, needless to say the 955 is a brilliant device :-)

Used to have the Apple Watch, but switched to Garmin 955 Forerunner Solar + never looked back. Amazing for swimming and even recognises what stroke I’m doing. Also have a whoop on the other wrist which isn’t great for individual sport tracking (no screen) but great for very accurate body metrics. I use mine for swim/cycle/run and I can’t do without it..!

+1. Or lightly used 955.

It’s not worth it imo. The solar doesn’t make much difference there and makes the screen look faded.

It's an excellent watch, I'm having it 3rd year now and still love it. Lightweight, has maps, plays podcasts with Playrun, all the running metrics I need, guides me through training with DSW, excellent screen visibility (the non-solar has one of the best visible MIP screens Garmin ever made). Battery life about 5-7 days with approx. 5-7h of workouts and custom watchface (which I think take a lot of battery but I like them). The only things I'd like to have are smart wake, and flashlight. Imo still best value for a buck in Garmin lineup.

Yes, all the solar or sapphire screens have more glare - you can see the difference here: [https://www.slowtwitch.com/industry/garmin-brings-upgraded-hardware-and-all-the-analytics-to-forerunner-955-solar/](https://www.slowtwitch.com/industry/garmin-brings-upgraded-hardware-and-all-the-analytics-to-forerunner-955-solar/)

955? I love mine, lightweight and capable

Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar and its fantastic. I charge it once a week if that.

I've had one for two months exactly. Solar version which doesn't charge as much as it is a way to keep history of how much sunlight you're getting

Solar intensity is basically just an unexpected way for me to keep history of how long I've spent under direct sunlight and at what time.

I also have the 955 solar but I don’t really notice much of a difference with battery charging when I am out in the sun

Went from a Fitbit to a Garmin Forerunner 955 and haven’t looked back. It’s made me a better, faster runner.

I got a 955 in January and really like it. One of the main reasons I got it was for navigation on more remote trail runs so the map feature on the watch was important to me. If it wasn't for that the 255 would probably have done me.

Bro you can get a "used" (often actually still new in box) 955 on marketplace for like $300. The only complaint I have about mine is the barometer/elevation data is jacked up, but that doesn't seems to randomly occur with different garmin devices and isn't isolated to this one. The 965 is basically the 955 with OLED, which isn't a real upgrade to me. The 970 is marginally more advanced. But don't spend $500 on it, that would be crazy for a watch 2 generations behind.

Forerunner 55 for the absolute basics. Forerunner 165 is the cheapest with a AMOLED screen. Forerunner 255, 265, 955 and 965 are just discontinued. In my opinion 955 is the most value for money as it includes mapping. 965 is the same watch as the 955, but with an AMOLED screen. If you don’t need mapping, then go for the 265. It is the same as the 965, but without maps. So if you can find a 955 that would be your best bet in my opinion. Forerunner 570 and 970 introduce unnecessary features, such as microphone & speaker, sapphire glass, shiny metal bezels all of which add nothing to running but do increase the price.

I have the 955. It's a fantastic watch, and if you regularly run/hike off-road, the maps are invaluable. What I like are the maps and the training metrics. One thing, though, if you're just entering the garmin world: the battery estimations that garmin offers are calculated in perfect lab-like conditions. I get about 6/7 days out of my 955 (compared to the 15 days that garmin markets itself), but that's with about 10 to 12 hours of gps use.

I have a 955, love it. Still getting updates, and my experience has been pretty bug free with it.

The battery life is dependent on how much you use it. If you do 5h of activities a week vs 30h, the battery won’t last very long. When I did about 7h activities a week, best satellite settings, no music, it lasted about 8-9 days. Without using GPS only indoor activities, it would last longer, but yeah still dependent on how much activities. Atm I’m only doing ~3h of activities, all indoor so no GPS, and it lasts about 12 days. I still love it and my only worry is I don’t know what I would upgrade to in the future, nothing else is really comparably good. I’d like there to be a 995MIP or something.

Since you’re a runner using Runna and want better battery life, the sweet spot is probably the Forerunner 265 if you want something light, run-focused and comes with AMOLED brightness which your Galaxy probably has. If you want more of a “smartwatch vibe” with a mic for calls then maybe the Venu 2 Plus is the only Garmin that adds voice assistant and call handling but its training metrics aren’t quite as deep as the Forerunner 955/965 series ones If I were you I’d also consider the Forerunner 955 or 965 for serious running and battery though, it’s pretty much the best watch you can get as a runner IMO or you could try [9 Best Smartwatches Worth Investing in 2025 for Running and Hiking](https://alaskanarrows.com/best-smartwatches-in-2025-for-hiking-and-running/) for others as well Cheers

I dont understand everyone being so negative, Ive had my FR955 for 2 years doing weekly training and havent had any problem, the tracking is accurate if your swimming technique is decent.

This is historically not true. The 255 and 955 have been updated with major updates over the last few years that kept them relevant for users and a high quality option for second hand purchasing.

I would personally always take a Forerunner over the Venu series, as I am pretty serious about my fitness. I don't really care much about smart watch features, just need a bare minimum. And the venu series seems to take tradeoffs with fitness features to accommodate the increase in smart features.

Running is just what the Forerunner targets to be the best choice for. It is a lighter watch, with all the GPS accuracy you can get. It doesn't focus on Golf or diving or being "rugged". So yes, a Forerunner would still be a great option for your situation, and it will just be a plus if you ever decide to run.

Seems like I missed it. Just ordered a 955 with 2 year extended warranty for $366 USD after taxes.

You can still find it in online retailers with killer discounts. Same for the 955. For the value you can't beat them atm.

I got a 255 for 250 euros. At the time of my purchase the 955 was at 390 euros. I think that's a good deal.

I've been trying to figure out exactly this right now.... Here's some info which may help. I have an Apple Ultra 2 and that is my everyday smartwatch. It works OK for run run tracking and there's a pretty good app for surf tracking. I just recently tried it with swim and it's OK. The auto sets feature (e.g. recognizing 4 laps as a 100) is pretty reliable, but I don't think that the automatic split times are especially accurate. HR is somewhat accurate. I've tried both the built-in workouts app as well as the [swim.com](http://swim.com) app and although the latter is generally better for "real" swimming it doesn't really fit with my training workflow which involves transferring workouts to Training Peaks. I also wear prescription goggles (-3.0) and find the display very difficult to read in certain scenarios, especially when the screen dims. Some of the data fields are ridiculously small and there is no way to change them. I also have a couple of Garmin devices (Forerunner 955 and Epix gen 2) and for the sake of this discussion both are the same with the exception of the screen technology. The Epix is AMOLED and objectively "better" but the 955 is so much easier to read at the pool. Garmin's auto rest feature (automatic lap/set vs rest feature) is almost good. The issue is that the motion detection is way too sensitive so if I move my arm at all during rest it thinks I'm still swimming. The algorithm also has trouble with rests shorter than 20s so it's common to see workout sets recorded as one big swim blob with some periods of no movement sprinkled in. HR accuracy is similar to apple... at least it was similar for the few times that I wore both to compare. I think that I've settled on wearing the 955 for swimming in the manual mode where I have to press the lap button at the start end end of each rest period. This gives me the most accurate representation of what I did for that session along with pace and HR data that makes sense within the context of the workout. The display is super-easy to read and gives me the information that I need in the pool. The transfer to Training Peaks is seamless and everything appears to be working well at this point. At some point I'm sure I'll stop caring about the exact structure of the workout that I did and just use the watch to record the whole thing. It is possible to pre-build workouts in both platforms and there are virtual coaching products that work with both. I never investigated what's available as I have a human coach who takes care of dictating my daily torture. I will say that having the watch execute the workout isn't all it's cracked up to be. Neither platform is especially good about providing visibility into what is coming up and in some cases barely conveys what you're supposed to be doing right now. If the watch messes up with counting laps then it could put you into a rest period at the wrong time and generally get you out of place in your workout. In some cases it's extremely difficult to go back and repeat a section of a workout. I've gone back to the post-it note stuck to my water bottle as the high-tech way of bringing my workout to the pool. With the workout transcribed in pencil and a rubber band as a safety it's pretty much fool proof.

I went through exactly the same scenario recently. Here's the brief version of what I found. Apple Watch Alone: Does an excellent job of recording sessions, but the data display during the workout is limited and doesn't include some fields I want. Personally I found the display slightly difficult to read. It was also quite frustrating that when transferred to Training Peaks the workout was broken up into 25yd pool lengths rather than the actual sets I swam. Apple + swim.com: This one works really well. I'm still not thrilled with the data display, but it is more useful than AW alone. Recording accuracy is excellent. The only issue that I had was the quality of the downloaded data into Training Peaks. No matter how I did it (and I took a number of different approaches) the HR data was wonky. Garmin (I'm using the 955, but they're all essentially the same): Data display is fully customizable so I can show exactly what I want and the rest timer display is useful. Note that the 955 has the older MIP display rather than the AMOLED that is all the rage now. The MIP is absolutely my preference as it is far easier to read in/at the pool and the rest timer screen is much clearer. Data transfer to Training Peaks is perfect. I don't use the auto-set feature on Garmin as it is far too sensitive of motion during rest, plus it's really unreliable if the rest interval is less than 20s (which most of mine are). I had one session where a descending set of 100s was recorded as one 800 since the rest was only about 15sec between. Now I have auto-lap off and hit the lap button when I push off at the start of a lap and again when I touch the wall at the end to start the rest timer. The watch does an excellent job of recording pool lengths and overall lap distance. I started out by trying to program the workout into the watch and then have the watch run it, but this proved to be cumbersome. First off, there's no truly clean way to get my coach's workout into the watch directly so there was always some manual intervention required. Second, if the watch mis-counted something or I needed to re-start a set the process was extremely frustrating in the pool. Now I just write the workout on a post-it with pencil and stick that to my water bottle. I just use the watch to record the workout. I'm currently using the Garmin to record swim workouts and it's working very well for me.

It’s OK, but the workout builder is kind of cumbersome to use. Lots of tapping, then turning dials, then tapping. Just a poorly conceived user interface. The issue I have with all of them is that you become a slave to the watch in the pool. Need an extra 10s rest? Well you had better hurry up and pause the watch because if you let it get into the next interval then it’s a total pain to back up. I had one workout where it was a series of 25yd sprints with short rest in between. The Apple Watch got totally confused and double-counted laps so it was having me finish the set in half the time. There was no easy way to get out of that so I ended up pausing the watch and finishing the set without recording. It’s so much easier just to write the workout down and let the watch record it. Plus I find that the act of writing it down commits it to memory. I’ve settled on Garmin as it just works better with Training Peaks and that’s a key feature for me. I do wish it was smarter about auto-lap but it has been 100% accurate hitting the lap button after every lap. To be clear when I say lap I don’t mean length of the pool I mean collection of lengths (eg 50s, 100s, etc)

Garmin Forerunner 955 Note on the Garmin watches... for the most part the pool swim functionality is the same between all models. This falls apart a bit with older models that are no longer being sold, but if you can buy it from Garmin and it has the Pool Swim activity then it's going to be the same as any other currently-available model. Also, the auto-lap function is completely useless and will result in total frustration as your set of 10x50 gets counted as 125+300+75+400+50. Use the manual function and get used to hitting the lap button at the start and end of each rest, or use an Apple Watch with the [swim.com](http://swim.com) app.

Or just get the 955. It’s practically the same bar the screen

You'll be forced to use MyFitnessPal for food tracking, since the watch and Connect app don't do it natively. I've got a 955 and an index scale and I still don't bother with MFP at all, I use a different app. The watch doesn't really do any good measurement of training load for strength training either, like it shows something but it's inconsistent and won't provide training load recommendations since strength is always considered anaerobic. I agree with OP, unless you intend to do some aerobic work too (hiking, running, cycling, etc) I wouldn't recommend a Garmin just for Strength training.

If you want it only for running, then look at forerunner 255/265 or 955/965 (these with 5 in the middle have MIP screens, these with 6 have AMOLED). I’m recommending these since they’re smaller and lighter, but if you like the looks of fenix 7 go for it. In terms of HR recording you’re gonna need chest strap for running if you want to get accurate measurements. Measuring the heart rate from wrist is good until it come down to trainings with variable intensity, for example the watch alone is very bad at recording hr during intervals. In terms of GPS, fr 955/965 have the best one (multiband gps). The difference is visible when recording next to high building or in the forest. The type of screen is something where you need to see comparison between these two, I’m personally in love with MIP for its visibility when being outside and way better battery life. But everyone prefers something different so this decision is up to you. I personally have fenix 7s which i bought mainly for everyday use and hiking/biking. But I started to run with it and it’s perfect for me. Everyday training suggestions are very nice, especially if you wear the watch all the time. It’s taking many factors into account (for example sleep, stress, training load, your performance and many more) so every training is adjusted to you, no need to think what you should do.

I had 955 and now have 970. The visual difference is enormous. I think it is not being updated anymore regarding new features. Other than that it is a great watch!

Some metrics that i don't know if they are important, flashlight, which his great, better HR sensor, it seems more snappy to me, ability to call from the watch and a very beautiful screen. But as I said, 955 is a great watch! If you are a MIP lover, go for it!

Definitely still a cracking and viable watch, the only issue is that Garmin love putting out new features on more recent watches that older ones would be perfectly capable of running too. So if you're like me and will get frustrated at not being able to see something like training readiness (955 might have this but it's just an example of a newer feature I could think of), then you might want the 965 instead. If you just want a watch that does all the good, expected, fitness features and will be supported for the years to come with any necessary bugfixes etc. then the 955 will be perfectly serviceable

I just bought it a few days ago, and have been loving it so far! Upgraded from Vivoactive 4

Garmin 955 linked to Fetcheveryone

You can get a Fenix 7 Pro for less than that from John Lewis at the moment. It depends what you want from the watch. If you want sturdy and looks good then go for a Fenix, if you want lighter then go Forerunner. You won't get a Fenix 8 in that budget but the 7 Pro is still very good for the money.

The 255 doesn't have training readiness even though it has all the other metrics needed to get training readiness. Also doesn't have maps. If you want either of this features then go for the 955. It if you want a more watch looking watch (if that makes sense) do for the Fenix 7 Pro (although more money they are very good and almost on a par with the Fenix 8 of you don't mind a MIP screen). Any of the options will see you through a marathon, in fact they should see you through a week's worth of marathons!

Look for a certified waterproof refurbished Garmin, maybe in the Forerunner family. Personally I would go back as far as the \_55 models (255, 755, 955, etc.).

955 is on sale right now and is a pretty sweet deal, other than that, getting 970 cus its the latest is the safest bet.

It was on sale until yesterday i think, and lasted about from prime day. In Canada, anyway. Got it for $470 CAD with taxes

Just went for a hike today with my 955. Could see the maps clear as day.

Same. I still rock an original instinct solar. Love having all the basic stuff and the solar is super helpful. If I needed maps I have a forerunner 955 as well.

There’s a garmin quiz thing online that I used. It’s asks a bunch of questions and then will match you with some watches. I don’t know enough about them to give you an answer but that’s how I ended up with my 955

I had a coros pace 1 and switched to Garmin 955. The garmin is way better for swimming

Im rocking a 955 and I love it

I have mine since Jan 2023. It has 14d fully charged.

955 owner here. Nothing Garmin released since then makes me want to upgrade.

I have a 955 and Runna. Works very well, sync perfectly. For the prompts - yes, you will get them, there is a separate article on Runna that discusses what to do: [https://support.runna.com/en/articles/6169639-using-your-garmin-watch-with-runna-and-getting-the-most-out-of-it](https://support.runna.com/en/articles/6169639-using-your-garmin-watch-with-runna-and-getting-the-most-out-of-it) I think the prompts are a bit less complex than if you start the activity from the phone, not sure about that.

>More specifically I’m currently considering the Forerunner 570 because of it’s features. But, also the Forerunner 970 because of the ability to show maps instead of a breadcrub trail variant I don't know where you live, but if it's in the dense city this feature is absolutely golden. I run in the middle of major metropolis and the streets are REALLY tight together, with breadcrumb (I had a 255 for 3 months) I didn't know which one to take, same in the countryside. Never an issue with a 955 which I have right now. Same with Spotify integration - I leave my phone at home. Solved the bank payment issue by getting a Revolut account.

I would not pay $500 for a Forerunner 955 in 2025 when the 965 is $600. That's still its release date price from 2022...And I say that as someone who loves his 955.

I'll take the L on this one. I thought the 965 was getting updates the 955 wasn't but that's not the case. I also prefer the 955 screen. I still wouldn't pay $500 for the 955 in 2025 (or $600 for the 965). But the pricing on these products is also getting out of hand so here's to hoping my 955 has a nice long existence! 

I just picked up the 955 over the summer. I love the watch. You only need to charge it once a week, and I run every day. I would definitely recommend it because it is cheaper than the newest offerings.

955 owner here. The biggest difference between them besides the screen is the 955 having maps. Personally (even as a trail runner), I don't find the on-device maps to be all that important. It's something I may use a handful of times/year and most of the times I'll have my phone on me on trail days anyways. Sure, there's a few additional sport modes and some random metrics, but frankly none of them are make or break and would probably fall into the "data noise" bucket within a few days for most folks anyways.

Swimming on the Active 2 is not good. It does not have a proper rest mode and suffers the same fate of the screen needing to be "active" for the physical buttons to function as expected. If you're doing a single non-stop casual swim, it will track stroke/swolf fine, but if you do any kind of interval workout, it will add a bunch of distance and you'll end up with very inaccurate data. Assuming the Vivoactive is similar to how my Fenix 5+, Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 955 all were, it has proper rest modes, interval support, countdowns for starting intervals etc.

I think it depends on how often you run with your phone. I've had a Garmin Fenix 5+ and now a Forerunner 955, both with maps. The offline mapping is cool, but personally I use it like 2-3x/year (even breadcrumb). Most of the trails I run on are pretty straight forward and that handful of times I've gotten lost, I just use my offline Google Maps to point me in the right direction. Usually it's just long 15-20+ mile runs in unfamiliar places while car camping that I might create a course, assuming I don't do a simple out-and-back. The Garmin app allows for me to create courses right there and push it to my watch with ease. I think Coros and Polar are similar (Maybe Suunto too?). Obviously with multi-day backpacking, mapping becomes more important on-device due to battery life concerns.

Currently 2 years on my wrist ;) Overall an excellent watch, the only thing I would like is the display from 965. Otherwise great.

Go with a venu 3, all the important things is there, it has great accuracy comparable with forerunners, and it's adequate for your running needs, and also the design is more fitting for you.  But yeah, if I have to choose for myself I'd go with Forerunner because as a guy I like Forerunner better design wise, and I like to have all the features even though I might not need it. 

Go for it. The 255 and 955 currently have the best value. Full of bells and whistles, good battery life because of their MIP screen, and priced right.

Get the 955 if you want better battery life, get the 965 or Race S for colorful screen. 

For lifting you really need a chest strap. I have a Forerunner 955 that is a significant improvement for wrist based heart rate measurements, but it just gives nonsense while I’m lifting or climbing.

I have had the 955 for about a year now. The stamina feature seems cool but I have no idea what to do with that information. Maps and long battery life is great though. 

I second this. Sapphire glass, better HR monitor,... There are upgrades to the 970 but they are not worth it compared to 965. For running intervals you will anyways need a strap. Truth be told even the 955 can do the job just fine.

I went with the 955, love that the screen is always on.

well, the 945 is now 3 generations old so I'm honestly surprised it's come up that often to even make the list. I have a 955 and i feel like it's dated being 2 generations behind now. I'm more surprised the 965 isn't on the list. Maybe 945 is there because it can be had for cheap if buying used?

Only reason I upgraded my 945 to a 955 was I had a buyer for the 945, and I had a deal through my credit card so I upgraded for $100. The multiband GPS is nice when running downtown. Only upgrade really.

It's still a very viable watch. Other than the AMOLED display, it isn't too far off from the 965. If you're happy with MIPS then you'll be happy with the 955.

Just about all the Garmin watches do what you're looking for. The only thing with the Instinct is that it's a pretty specific look. You're coming from an Apple watch, which is pretty much accepted as appropriate in any setting and with any attire. The Instinct definitely looks rugged and tough. The Forerunner is more generic looking.

If you want maps on watch you take the 955. If you dont care like I do take the 265. Navigation still works wothout the actual drawn maps and its easy and intuitive.

I use my Garmin Forerunner 955 for swimming and running mainly. I haven't had a chance yet to use it with my bike. My previous Garmin worked great for running and with my bike. The sensor that attaches to the bike paired up seamlessly. I've had a good experience with my Forerunner. The pool swim app that comes with it will occasionally miss a lap. No more than 75 yds in a 1200 yd workout.

I bought a 955 about a month ago. Didn't know about the generate route function. Thanks for informing me hahaha

Ive had a few Fenix versions, they are great/ top of the range. Last few years ive been using forerunners which have all the functionality - 9xx series is great, or 2xx for something easier on the pocket. My activities include trail running, hiking, triathlons (and running/swimming/riding only), golf/disc golf. Navigation and battery are good, and glass is strong. Lifestyle is great for sleep, general hr tracking, step counts, tap to pay. The 955 i have also has great multimedia (music). Cant go wrong with a forerunner (solar if you are doing ultra's or multiday). Fenix is a nice splurge

Ive had a few Fenix versions, they are great/ top of the range. Last few years ive been using forerunners which have all the functionality - 9xx series is great, or 2xx for something easier on the pocket. My activities include trail running, hiking, triathlons (and running/swimming/riding only), golf/disc golf. Navigation and battery are good, and glass is strong. Lifestyle is great for sleep, general hr tracking, step counts, tap to pay. The 955 i have also has great multimedia (music). Cant go wrong with a forerunner (solar if you are doing ultra's or multiday). Fenix is a nice splurge

Had Apple Watch 3 and it was terrible in the pool. Switched to the Garmin Venu and now on the forerunner 955. I’ve had no issues with the Garmin, you can select the screens/info you want and it even logs drill sets. Most people I swim with use Garmin. Just make sure that you check the specifics of the model you get as some have more swim features than others.

Bought one relatively recently, I wanted MIP but didn't like the Fenix weight/cost. This seemed like the best option, for ~€300. The 255 would have saved €100, I probably don't need all the 955 features but I didn't like the 255 styling. I'm not sure if it is any more "future proof" but maps is kinda neat. I want at least 5 years out of the tech I buy, and with MIP being less and less common I can't see why I would stop using this before it dies.

I have a Venu 2S and am deciding between the 955 and 970. My final decision was based on the fact that the MIPs last longer. I do sure like the 970, but I truly think the 955 is a better option.

The 955 is a great watch. I have it now. It has a “flashlight” on it as well. Just turns the screen white. I use it as a hotkey holding the back button down for 3 seconds. The 970 will have a better screen and has an ECG which I think are the largest differences between them.

I replaced a 255 with a 955 this summer, which gave me maps and touchscreen. The 955 is the best and last available MIP watch in the Forerunner lineup. It has the functionality I need, even if it doesn’t get any more updates, at a great price - I snagged it new for only $450 CAD (~$326 USD).

Love mine. Maps and touch are great. No problems loading and following courses.

I'm a busy middle aged guy who is an on again / off again runner and cycler that recently upgraded from a 245 to a 955. I'd say if you really like data, and health data tracking it's hard to go wrong with something like a 965. I also love the 2+ week battery life I get out of the 955, even with 4-5 gps events per week. I also don't care about the smart watch features and I turned all those off.

I own both of these in that I have the 955 and I bought the 265 for my wife. Whew, that AMOLED is hella nice….but the 955 does everything and more for what I need, but I sure wish I had that display.

Garmin Forerunner 955 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 owner here. The AW is a better all around device, but for running, I find that the physical buttons are a big plus. I wear both watches with running and the GPS is very similar, but things like pausing, ending a lap or even activity can be difficult on the AW if you’re sweating. I use the AW for media when running, but the Garmin is my primary activity device.

I have Epix pro gen 2 47mm ss, it is great, got it for 50% off. Don't pay 800, look for discounts, also don't go for newest models, Instinct 2 solar or 2x is great, also Foreruner 955... Find some store and go try them and seek youtube for further info- chase the summit, desi fit...

Why top notch, go for foreruner 255 or 955

Foreruner 255 anad 955 with maps, they are mip screens, always on, 965 is amoled and more power hungry but still great one, if want bulkier fenix 7 or epix pro gen 2

Agreed. Mip is easy on the eyes, battery life is excellent, golf, Spotify, and maps. Works great with Strava. Always tracks my runs. Highly recommend.

Yup, flew out to another city on Wednesday morning, had a 14km race on Sunday, and came back on Monday - just charged before I left and absolutely no anxiety about the watch going flat, my 955 easily lasts for 10 days

I have the forerunner and I haven’t as it’s not rated for that kind of temp. However google searching has people going into the sauna with their Garmin without issue so it’s really a personal risk / reward scenario.

I had the 955 and went to 965. I enjoy the 965 way more mostly because of the screen. Your concern is justified!

Most of them are decent at hr without a strap but you’d want something with the elevate v5 sensor for the best data and unfortunately that’s fenix only. The 255 or 955 would be the best bet here but the 255 doesn’t have maps. Also the 965 is great if you want oled instead of MIP

Basically any Garmin from the 255 and up. Fenix is the best but pricey so forerunner should be more than enough

Garmin. Anything from the fr955 up has maps and offline navigation(maps and then by turn nav). Also the fenix 7 pro can be had for amazing prices if you look and are patient

The 955 is way better than the 265. You’ll have better battery life, maps, solar and the MIP screen(better than oled imo)

They are all "good enough" without a HR strap tbh. If you don't care *that* much about HR data... you'll get by with wrist as long as it's tight. It's usually pretty accurate for consistent based efforts. It's the intervals/gym sessions a wrist really struggles. Since you mention mapping... look into the Forerunner 965 or 955. Difference is the 965 has an AMOLED display, 955 is what we call MIP. MIP = longer battery life. Both are on sale, 955 is on sale tremendously if that's a route you wanted to go. If you can afford/find a deal on a Fenix 7 Pro that has the most up-to-date wrist-based optical HR sensor which is more accurate than the Forerunner 965 or 955 HRM. Lots of options there, but I've been recommending some friends to get the 955 lately, as I think I've seen $350 for the regular and $400 for solar model prices out there. I think that's an amazing bargain.

it almost has everything, very light and comfy for me, its battery is not enough for an 100km ultra and no default app for kayak

I do with my forerunner 955 but it probably isn’t a great idea. I suspect it will shorten the battery life. My iPhone has proactively shut down due to being over temp, but never had the watch do that. You can lookup the operating specs for any price of electronics online - few of them are in the sauna range.

I just picked up a 955 because I got fed up with Apple Watch S8 battery life. Not charging it for days has been awesome.

I have just bought the 955. It has a colour MIP screen, not sure what the other commenter means. I think the colour intensity/range is perfectly fine for a running watch - better than I was expecting actually. I chose the 955 as I was able to find a good price for it and the MIP screen allows for greater battery life. Happy to answer any other questions if it’s helpful

Oh and just to add, I switched to 955 from an Apple Watch SE

It’s fine, I would say probably not as responsive as AW, I think they probably use a different type of touch screen but combined with the buttons it works really well as a running/activity watch.

I actually run with both a Garmin 955 and an Apple Watch Ultra 2 so I can keep my phone at home. The AW definitely can give some funky HR data and a lot times measures short or maybe the garmin measures long on the runs but they’re always off by about 0.02 every 1-2 miles ish.  One thing to consider is if you run during the winter. I used to run with AW series 7 and my battery would freeze and the watch would die in the middle of a run regardless of my battery charge. The garmin hasn’t died in the winter before. This will be my first winter with the AWU so we’ll see how it does. 

The only real difference is the display type. 955 is MIP and 965 is AMOLED.

For 350 bucks, the 955 is a no-brainer.

I love my 955. But I've had a 945 since 2020, I've used it an awful lot for swimming, cycling, walking, golf and the map function has got me out of the shit of couple of times. Recently (December 2024) the screen started to delaminate, Garmin sent me a 955 and it's fab. Touch screen is very good, the overnight report is really informative and it even gives you a weather report. I'd say it's a nice size, not crazy big. Well worth it

FYI: the FR255, compared to the FR955, 265, 965 less training metrics, missing Training Readiness. FR255/955 Mips display versus Amoled others.

Same for me! I was looking for an update, but want to rest with mip and the 955 ticks all the boxes!

True. I just changed from the fr955 to the 970 and don’t see going back anymore. The fr955 seems just outdated in comparison to me.

If you're strapped for cash, go for the 255 (with the only major differences between it and the 265 being the AMOLED+touchscreen display - which not everyone prefers - and the Training Readiness metric). But if you're needing full mapping, then probably the 955 will be best. Also, the 975+275 will likely be here in Q2, so that might help push prices down, though it sounds like your Apple watch is needing a replacement pronto.

My 955  does all those things and has still never crashed. Have a simple display of just a watch face on and the battery lasts forever

I’ve had both. I am primarily a runner but right now doing triathlon training as well. I have the forerunner 955 and it does well beyond what I need. I like it a hundred times better than the fenix I had.

I’ve had both fenix and forerunner. Even as a multi sport athlete ( although primarily a runner) I hands down love my forerunner way better.

Lots of options. Check out the Venu series, Vivofit, and Vivoactive. IMO the value-added aspects of the Forerunner are around running and other aerobic endurance sports. Are those relevant to you?

Forerunner can be a great alternative to Fenix if you're price conscious. Or just last generation Fenix. Do you care about maps?

Sounds like a good plan. I can't remember which Fenix was the first to be a dive watch but the only other is the much more expensive Descent. If you don't need the additional features from the Descent and the Fenix replaces a dive computer, it seems like you end up getting a really good value. It's worth comparing to some of the Forerunners if the dive aspect doesn't look that strong to you. I think the 255, 265 and 570 do everything you need for actual training functions. The 955, 965 and 970 add maps and the 970 adds a running tolerance function that might be helpful for marathon training. How much do you run now? Do you have a training plan picked out? While Garmin has all of Daily Suggested Workouts, adaptive training plans, and fully pre-set training plans, they all have their issues for a marathon. I actually quite like DSW but more for filling in the gaps and helping maintain balance. https://lifehacker.com/health/what-its-like-to-train-for-a-race-with-garmins-training-plans

Forerunner does that stuff too. In general, higher-end Garmins add, they don't take away. Are you serious about any of your sports? Like planning seasons, building for events, that kind of thing?

Changed my mind... I think without an explicit indoor rowing activity profile and VO2max, the extra analysis stuff on the Forerunner won't really work. Not sure if any of the watches have that. I know there are some accepted equations to estimate that stuff, though I think you'd also need a reasonably accurate power meter on your rowing machine. So yeah, Venu or whatever is fine.

My opinion, go with the Forerunner. Check out all the chatter from people moving on from their Apple Watches - I get that some of the newer ones have much better support for running but you say you have an older one. And you're not going to want to carry your phone either. How much running have you done up to now?

Apart from maps (which I use often and do appreciate the return to start feature, especially when running in new areas) it comes down to what screen technology you prefer. I’m really happy with MIP and will seek out another MIP watch when it comes to renewing my 955

Agree with everything except battery life - the 965 has a 23-day battery life, versus 15 days for the 955. Just because the display should have better battery life, doesn't mean the *entire watch* actually does. [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=886725&compareProduct=777655](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=886725&compareProduct=777655)

The maps on the 955 would be worth it for me, since I use the navigation features a lot when trail running. The rest of the training tools are mild nice-to-haves, no real game changers. If you don't think you'd use the maps, and you prefer the AMOLED screen, then the 265 would make sense.

There is nothing wrong with buying one generation older then the newest. As for updates, it's not like your watch stops working when updates are no longer available for your device. The importance of updates is really overrated. So I would say, go for the 955 if the price difference is high enough.

My four Runner 955 provides great swim tracking. Whichever Garmin you end up getting and I presume the same as true of other watches you want to make sure that you have the correct GPS settings set up for your device. Different settings can yield very different tracking results, additionally different settings can also affect battery life.

I have a Garmin forerunner 955 and love it. Great battery life records the swims very accurately, along with runs, cycling, and triathlon. I think if you don’t wanna spend as much the other Garmin forerunner models are also very good. Looking into the GPS settings and adjusting those settings also makes a big difference on tracking accuracy. https://www.dcrainmaker.com/ DC Rainmaker does great reviews 

Forerunner 955 is great for open water swimming 

Been using it for open water swimming for 2+ years, and I have not calibrated it beyond comparing it to the recordings of friends I swim with, and they are various devices. However, when comparing it to friends other devices and their posts on Strava, etc. mine appear to be more consistent and more accurate overall. I often point people to DC rainmaker as a great resource for in-depth testing of fitness devices and I’d encourage you to go check out his videos. I don’t think he’s done an updated Swim specific video in a while. His previous one recommended the Garmin Swim 2 as the best Swim watch but I feel that it’s a bit out of date and my wife, who has the Garmin swim 2 often faces battery problems with the watch, dying in the middle of swims.

I went from a 45 to a 245 to now the 955. I love the 955. I did wait until it went on sale for $350usd.

The Sapphire glass for hiking in the mountains, especially if you also rock climb. If you get a separate heart rate sensor, then 955 is good as you can put it in your pocket when doing rock climbing.

If you are talking about non sapphire then 100% the 955

Get the 570, if not then 970, the new sensor itself Is worth it, if not the new sensor then get the 955 (or even 255) - there is no space for 965 imo

Garmin 955 here. If you hold the high button on the left you get into a menu that has the option to lock your watch. If it doesn't show the lock option you hold the middle button, there is a option to activate it.

Garmin Forerunner for sure. Great Battery life. Great feature set. Great integration with cycling computers, powermeters etc. Overall my 955 is perfect for me. 10-12 days of battery

If you do regular sports, get the watch with 5 buttons, it is so much better in daily use for sports. As for features, the FR255 does Everything you need, its only incremental updates since then. If you want maps for running, to follow a course, there is the FR955. All other aspects are more about wants, taste, looks, preference, in terms of needs, FR255 fills all the needs for doing sports. Which is also ok. A watch is also a fashion statememt, something that you look at all day, so choosing something that you like is also a factor. ECG, PulseOx, etc. are not that useful in real life, in my experience.

165 is a great watch for beginners, 570 is the middle tier and 965 is for advanced runners etc All depends on what matters to you, if you want the ability to take calls on your watch then 570 is the one to get as it comes with in built speaker and mic. If you want best battery life it would be the forerunner 955 as it’s MIP display and lasts longer than amoled displays

955 here. Good watch, value for money.

Personally, I love my 955 and would always recommend it. However, looking at your preference (more tech & features) and use case scenario (no running but more fitness/swimming focus), am wondering if an Instinct 3 or Fenix would meet you needs better. Nevertheless, between the two watches, I think you would prefer 965.

Wait till 255 fails unless you have too much money to spend. I would rather go 955 or Enduro 3 rather than the always on/off Amoled 970. But as long as my 255 is working, I will not switch.

It's a very old model, which Garmin priced way to high for it to ever become good value for money. I had an close eye on it and 946lte due to size. I ended up buying 955 when it was released and first long after that, did the 745 and 945lte, but now it was too late and they where outdated

Buy the 955 and use the difference on an external heart rate monitor. You will not get accurate analysis without with those activities

Definitely 955 over 265. Ideally 965. 

Others celebrate MIP with amazing battery life and outstanding readability in direct sunlight. I wouldn't want to miss the maps of the 9x5 series. 

I have a 955 and only cycle. I have found find there can be a lag at times, and won't update as much as you think it would. I use the chest strap and feel it is l much more accurate with more frequent updates.

I second this. All the features. Half the price

"Real time stamina" is pretty much the most useless feature that exists on the watch. The main improvement the 955 has over the 265 is the maps.

It's the exact same watch, only different screen. Why pay 100$ extra for a worse screen? ;)

It’s a great watch that doesn’t pretty much everything except ECG

Forerunner 955 has the best price to feature ratio

The 955 and 965 are the same except different screens

955 is 90%+ of the watch the 970 is at half the price.

955 without a doubt has more features

Forerunner 955 is older cheaper and better than any AW.

955 is the better choice

955 is a better deal than both

Also, the 955 has almost all the features of the 970 for about half the price.

The maps in the 955 saved me when I went off course in a night race.

FR 955 is 90%+ of the watch at 50% of the cost

I have a FR 35 and a FR 955 both work great. I got the 955 at launch in a contest. It’s a watch that has way more features than I think anyone can use.

955 is the king value

It’s great I have had it since launch. Great watch wear it 24/7

FR 955 is the same as the 965 just a different screen. Way cheaper

If you want maps 955 is the way

955 is the way to go

955 is a better choice

Yeah its solid. Don't see any reason to upgrade really and would rebuy if I had to

The forerunner's will be fine. It comes down to preference, do you want LED or MIP screen? Do you need maps? Something like the 165 or the 255/265 will be more than fine. 955 if you want maps. 965 if you want maps+LED screen. Instinct 2 and 3 will work too, its just more rugged basically. All of them are solid, road and trail runner friendly.

Forerunners are great even if you don't run. None of the watches are great for the gym btw. For hiking you basically want an altimeter (which all new watches have) and maybe maps (which only the most premium watches do). I think the main advantage the Instinct has over the Forerunner is that it comes with Garmin Explore integration (for offline realtime mapping with the companion app on the phone). Only the Forerunner 9xx series support this. I think an Instinct 2 or 3 will be a great choice for your use

I love 955 but shouldn't have bothered with solar

Yeah it’s definitely a great deal. I’m just mindful that is will be 3years old as of March so the tech is getting a bit outdated. Maps are definitely a selling point but I tend to preload the maps with the GPX file for planned trail runs or hikes and the 265 would handle the navigation. The 265 is probably the better watch but it’s also so much more expensive at the moment. I’m thinking it may reduce around march is the 275 is released.

UPDATE: Cheers for the help. Ended up picking up the 955 for AUD$445 (USD $285). There is no doubting the screen and UX is significant a downgrade from an Apple Watch, but that’s not the point. Took it for a 3hr 13km hike and the built in maps were extremely handy and best part is it didn’t use half the batter. This will definitely serve its purpose and I’m happy with the decision.

I just bought the 955 and I'm not sure what more I'd need

I have a garmin 955 and while I enjoy it for what it is, I have no faith in Garmin as a company anymore. I love the watch don't get me wrong, but if I was going to do my switch from apple to a dedicated sports watch now, I would definitely have gotten the Coros Pace Pro instead. Garmin just feels like a sinking ship

I have a forerunner 955 which might be slightly out of your price bracket I use it mainly for swimming and running. It will depend on what you need. If you need route maps and swim coaching the more expensive garmins will be key, if you just want to run and swim and track heart distance and laps then the cheaper forerunners will be ideal. Also look at weight of watches as some are heaver and you will notice it on your wrist when swimming. I tried a fenix for a bit but did not like it

Jumped from apple watch to forerunner 955. Highly recommend, although there is much more functions than what you are looking for - took me about a week or two to understand most of it. Based on your criteria, i would look into vivoactive class -> 5 as sbd in the comments suggested

I just bought it last week and am absolutely loving it. Excellent device

The 955 is still a great watch. I'm as quick of an upgrader as there is (have had a 220, 235, 935, 955, and tested out Coros Pace 3, Suunto Race, and have an AWU), but have yet to see anything on the newer models to get me to pull the trigger on an upgrade. GPS - As accurate as any of the current releases HR - Gen 4 (while not their latest) still being added to watches and does a good job. I run with a strap so the jump from 4 to 5 isn't a big sell When I first got the 955 I wore it every day while doing my most serious training for a half marathon. Had all the sleep, training readiness, training load going. Didn't miss a day with it. The data/information was cool, but I don't think I made any different choices based on the watch. I've trained for probably a half dozen other halfs and a full marathon since I got it, and without wearing the watch every day I don't look at any of the readiness/training status, and get to the same end goal.

Apple watch ultra 2 is your only real option for longer battery life and esim and the rest of the features you want. You do know that if you have a spotify premium sub you don't have to have an e-sim to listen to music, as you can download playlists and save them onto the device, unfortunately offline spotify is only available on wear os watches (not an option for iPHone as locked to android), apple watches and garmin. Garmin may be a good option as can do offline spotify playlists, and has built in route options or can pull them from strava, syncs data with strava way better than apple does; and the models that offer music all offer at least up to 10 days battery life, and they can offer way more than garmin does in terms of built in training metric and analytics and features. Note offline music + gps on watch is a heavy battery drain - so 1hr or gps activity + offline music and you are looking to recharge every 4-6 days (maybe longer) depending on the model, compared to multiple charge per day on AW (assuming you sleep with it) or daily charge on AWU2 If you want a mic and speaker look at venu 3, FR570, FR970, Venu x1 and Fenix 8 series. Otherwise you could go with vivoactive 5 or 6; FR265, FR965, FR955 and prior fenix 7 (and its variants like Epix 2 etc).

955 is great value for money. The only difference between the 965 and 955 is amoled though coming from Apple Watch the pixel display on the 955 might be a shock but I personally love it.

I agree. My garmin 955 is awful for swimming.

I purchased my 955 earlier this year, and it's been perfect for my needs. Can recommend

Not good IMO, have had experience with Garmin FR 955, Apple Watch, Apple Watch Ultra and now Fenix 8. I have done a combination of olympic weightlifting, crossfit and regular gymbro'ing plus running etc. AWU with Hevy was the best, nothing came close. Garmin plainly sucks for counting reps etc. I would suggest: use your phone with Hevy / Strong and save yourself a great deal of irritation.

I cannot justify upgrading from mine. It’s a great watch and superb value at the moment.

I have it, if I was buying now and could afford it I would get an enduro because of really big runs. If I couldn’t afford it I would buy the 955 again :-) absolutely brilliant watch.

Best value is 955 second hand.

I agree with garmin fr955. Superb value at the moment.

I have garmin 955, I use my smartphone but don’t need to. Garmin works as I am sure the other manufacturers do.

I love my 955

I have one, it is excellent and all the watch I need. If I was rich I would upgrade to an enduro because I want it to last battery wise whilst I am slow on ultramarathons. But other than that it is all the watch I could need I do about 6-8hours of activity per week and charge less often than a week. I think it is the best value watch Garmin offer right now.

How far do you want to run, when you say XC do you mean defined courses or trail where mapping might be useful? If Mapping may be useful 955/965 these are bothe premium watches. The 955 comes with MIP display and I think is the best value watch out there. 965 same watch with amoled screen. If you may want mega distances (100km plus) maybe enduro 2/3 but that is lots more money. If you don’t want maps 255 or 265. Same as 9 series, the 255 is MIP

Oh and second hand 955 is my usual recommendation.

Bets bets I would say would be 255 or if you might want napping 955. Although recovery metrics are based on how you recover and you need Garmin to be on you measuring. That said a lot of people criticise Garmin’s algorithms for sleep and recovery. Personally I have 955 on all the time and love it.

If you Don’t need maps the 255 is great. I think the best value is the 955. I love having the maps and heading off to explore trails

As already said. 955. It is the best value there is right now.

955, sorry the way your post was worded, if the 955 is meaningfully better.

In terms of accuracy, the device you will actually wear will be the best for you. None of these devices are 100% accurate for sleep tracking. But they all do a decent enough job. If you are looking for the most accurate, Apple watch does seem to hold a small edge over both garmin and whoop when compared to a chest strap according to both TQS and DC Rainmaker -- two of the biggest reviews. I do think AW does a much better job of detecting sleep - it just knows. With garmin it mostly looks at my set times and with whoop I am constantly telling it Im done sleeping. But I'd argue that the difference in accuracy doesnt matter for most people other than the most serious athletes. What matters most is what you need. Need a smartwatch with a screen? Go apple or garmin. Longest battery life? Garmin. LTE? AW. Dont want to or cant wear a smart watch but want the data? Whoop. Cheapest? AW SE or cheap garmin. I do think whoop is overpriced for what it is compared to its competition. I've worn both garmin and AW for many years. Currently have a garmin 955 and AW. I am doing the Whoop trial. There is nothing one of these devices really does better in terms of 'health' that another doesnt. They all tell me my sleep, all tell me my HR, and all tell me my HRV. Pick the one you think you will use and wear the most. Don't overthink it.

Depending on how serious she is about running, I would consider the 965 (especially with the sales). I have the 955 (same watch, different screen, but she may like the brightness of the 965) and absolutely love the navigation feature (I have trail and road courses entered for turn-by-turn directions) and having live tracking available for races (allows my family to track my progress and send me messages).

The reasons you describe are why I bought the 955. I charge my watch about every 5 days, listen to music on every run through my watch and use maps at least once a week (I get distracted on long runs). Buy the watch that keeps you showing up for the next run, but if you want to save a few bucks, there are other models that have what you're looking for.

I've had the 955 since March 2023. Just cracked the screen (still works) and I'm devastated. If it dies, i'll strongly consider getting another. Only negative I can speak to is it was very difficult to find a pair of earbuds that wouldn't lose connection during runs.

Still using my 955 everyday only charge it once a week mip screen is great outdoors. inside it’s kinda ehh but you will really appreciate outdoors activities with it. I use mine for running,weight lifting, and motocross also wear it practically 24/7 lightweight and get great data out of it body battery sleep 02 etc Only reason I personally would upgrade to a 970 is for the ability to take a call through the watch and maybe the brighter flashlight.

I went for the 955. Just arrived and loving it. I wanted maps navigation for running abroad and trail running (just getting into this). That was the big decision maker for me, so the 265 was a no go. The significant extra cost for the 965 wasn’t worth it for the AMOLED. The 955 is probably the best value watch you can get from Garmin right now.

I’ve heard mixed things about the breadcrumbs navigation and I like the security of having a map with road names. I don’t always run with my phone. The tech is pretty much identical to the 965. One note on the 265 is that I’ve seen many mention lots of glare issues with the screen. Not sure why as it doesn’t seem to be an issue on the 965. Bottom line, it comes down to personal preference. Garmin have been good with long term updates. I was still receiving updates on my Vivoactive 4S that was released in 2019. The next gen FR could see a new HR sensor, but not sure what else. As long as the tech supports a feature, the older models within that line usually get it. If you want to wait it out for a 265, then the expectation is a 2025 release of the 275 and 975 around March-April. We shall see. But I plan on using my 955 for quite a few years. I’m seeing people only now upgrading their Fenix 5s.

I agree. I just bought my 955. Don’t care about the AMOLED so saved myself loads as found the 955 for £250. But some may want the latest, so just wanted to share the expected release of the next gen. Suspect the HR sensor in the next gen FR will be updated. But doesn’t make the current or last gen worse. I’m happy with my 955 and rather have the extra cash for a new pair of running shoes.

I've had the forerunner 955 for about 2 months now and I highly highly recommend

The Lily is not a place to start they are an insult and described by Garmin as a fashion watch it doesn't even have built in GPS unless you buy the Lily 2 Active, the Vivoactive series lack altimeters. Coming from an Ultra and running at a few marathons a year the Fr255/265/955/965 would all suit you at a reasonable price. Garmin has outdated software and the UI and UX is terrible but they track activities well. Any of these watches will give you a great deal of data that is fun to look at but around 80% of it is not needed. You can use the compare tool on the Garmin website to compare the features of 5 watches at a time. That is a good place to start. Are you set on a Garmin or would you be interested in another brand? Sunnto and Coros have great watches at far better price points and with better feature to price ratios. As for you U2 you can control what notifications you get (FYI you don't have to get any) and you would get a great deal more battery if you just bought a chest strap for your runs.

Understand that even though Garmin has introduce a strength trainer, strength training has always been and always be an afterthought for Garmin, you will need a third party app to get any decent data. People have suggested the FR970 - overkill wth features that most will never use, understand or take action on, are they fun to look at - yes but they certainly are not needed unless you are a professional runner and even then you don't need half of them. The Fr255/265/955/965 would all suit your needs.

The Forerunner but that is just my preference because I feel that the Instinct is the ugliest watch that Garmin makes. I see several have suggested the MIP solar version of the Instinct - I would say a huge no to that. Unless you are going to spend a huge amount of time outside the solar is useless and the MIP is dull and not great inside.

I have had a 255 and now have a 965. Love them both. 965 is a nice upgrade. 955 is currently on sale for $650 at rebel so it’s a good investment. The forerunner are for runners 😉 so you can’t go wrong. Just depends on your budget

I have a forerunner 955. It has solar charging. GPS tracking is a battery killer regardless of device. My partner has an Instinct and moderate hiking a couple days in a row (6-7 miles) drains the battery on both our devices. Minimum I recommend having a backup battery pack to charge any devices on long hikes.

I bought it maybe 6 months ago? Everything works fine, got it for a nice price secondhand. Garmin might stop adding new features, but it is not gonna get worse either so if you like the features it has now it seems like a good purchase.

Replaced with 955 after one week, I feel like the 255+ is the way to go

Better GPS accuracy, larger screens, training readiness, sleep score, HRV, more running metrics, music and maps (955) Edit: ++altimeter

Which watch to buy really boils down to one question. Do you want a smart watch with fitness features, or do you want a fitness watch with some smart features? I had a few Apple Watches over a period of maybe 6 years and absolutely loved them. I especially liked the gym kit integration with my Bike+. Then, I started getting into running and seriously training for a 10k then a half marathon. I decided to get a Garmin Forerunner 955 because of the built-in coaching programs and the body battery/training readiness features. I was able to see incoming calls/texts (but couldn’t respond through the watch), there’s a “Garmin pay” feature, and while I was seriously into running I barely missed the benefits of being in Apple’s walled garden. There are workarounds to get your peloton rides onto your Garmin, and I have been happy with those. Since doing the half marathon, I have no desire to seriously train for a long-distance race, and every day I miss the seamless integration of the Apple watch and my iPhone more and more. I have already budgeted to buy a new Apple Watch Ultra when it comes out this fall, and I’m counting down the days until I have Siri on my wrist, can use quick responses, and control other apps/2fa without grabbing my phone. Based on your post, it sounds like you might be in the “fitness watch with smart features” camp in which case I would look at the Forerunner 965 because it unlocks so much more of the Garmin ecosystem than the Venu/Vivoactive lines. Be warned Garmin is starting to put some stuff behind a software as a service model, but I’m still happy with my “free” data.

I have a 955 and a petite female wrist. The watch is big for me but it’s manageable. In the winter, it gets a bit caught on my short sleeves sometimes but that’s the worst of it. I came from a Fenix 6s which was much thicker and heavier so even though that watch face was smaller in diameter, it was much more in the way. It was too heavy. I don’t find that the 955 really bothers me, especially when running.

It's already outdated (but still do more than 165). That why you can buy it at that price so don't expect anymore new update (same as 165,265,955, 965, Epic Pro etc) but the good thing is it's more stable/less bugs.

At that price 255 if you can live without touch screen. BTW Epix Pro at 370 is a steal but if you don't need map, climbing features, rugged &heavy case, 255 is more than enough.

IDK. 955 is maybe Garmin's most bang for your buck. However, look-wise it isn't much different from 255 why pay another 120 more if you don't need map, music, touch screen and climbing features. On the contrary, Epix Pro (Gen 2) looks much nicer but that's another more 80.

It depends on your budget; 165, 955 or 970. The most value is 955.

Forerunner 265 or 955 both could do open water and pool swim at almost similar price around 300$. 955 has more features but 265 has a better screen.

I thought you're better with 955 instead of 265. Almost the same price but 955 has more feature for runners, hikers such as ClimbPro, Maps etc unless you really needs an vivid screen. 255 has almost everything from 265 except Training Readiness which some feel it's useful. So you can make a swim workout plan in Garmin app and upload to 255 or 265.

Even at the same price, go for 955. The real problem with 265 (and 965) is the curved screen get scratched easily and because of its curve , only plastic screen protector can be used and because of plastic material, the screen protector also get scratched easily

FR955 as it has 965 feature with 265 price.

If you're obsessed with the data and can live with MIP display ... go for 955 will get you more data, more features with the same price range.

I use a Garmin FR955 and it still looks and functions like brand new, even after a year of swimming / running / weight lifting nearly every day.

For running, the **Forerunners** win because they’re lighter, have better training tools (readiness, load, recovery, VO₂, etc.), and give you more run-specific metrics. The **Instinct/Fenix** are better for hiking/backpacking since they’re tougher, with longer battery and more rugged features. Animated workouts are more of a nice to have, useful if you like guided bodyweight or gym sessions, but most people don’t rely on them. Daily suggested workouts are hit or miss: they’re good for structure but not something to blindly follow. Maps are genuinely handy if you do trails or long hikes; on runs they’re mostly good for keeping you on a planned route. The 970 only records ECG if you start it manually, it doesn’t passively check like an Apple Watch. Smart features: you’ll see texts and calls, but RCS isn’t supported (just standard SMS/notifications). The mic/speaker are fine for quick replies or answering a call in a pinch, but not something you’d want to use all the time. Why Garmin? Mostly the depth of training metrics, reliability, and ecosystem, Coros and Suunto are good but Garmin still has the most polished data!!

If you want the most features and full maps, the Forerunner 955 is the smarter buy, especially with the sale. If you’d rather have something lighter and nicer to wear every day but still get all the health tracking you need, the Venu 3 is a great choice. The Vivoactive 6 will cover the basics, but it feels a bit outdated compared to the other two:)

Go with the **Forerunner 165,** big upgrade from Fitbit with GPS, HR, sleep, stress, and HRV. If hiking navigation is important, look at the **FR255 or 955** since they add route guidance and Komoot sync.

This depends on how you want to track your sessions. Some people prefer to start "strength training" when enter a gym and stop it at the end. I use my watch to follow my program like described here: [https://gelberhut.com/strength-training-with-a-garmin-in-a-gym/](https://gelberhut.com/strength-training-with-a-garmin-in-a-gym/) If you want to do the same - a watch which allows to adjust weight/rep number using the touch screen is handy. I know that venu3 and F8 support this, not sure about other models. PS: Not that long ago, Garmin released strength coach (https://gelberhut.com/garmin-strength-coach-what-is-it-and-what-can-it-do/), if you want it: check one of Garmin Venu 3, Garmin Fenix 8, Garmin Vivoactive 5, Forerunner 255, Forerunner 265, Forerunner 955, Forerunner 965.

Garmin forerunner 955/965 is still available and is incredible value for money - main difference between the two is the amoled screen: if you like it get the 965, if you’re not bothered about it then the 955 is cheaper and has better battery. Comparable features across the two.

Garmin forerunner is a sports product with some lifestyle features. Apple Watch is a lifestyle product with some sports features. I wear a 955 24/7, have done for years, works perfectly for what I want. My wife converted from Apple Watch to 255 because she got fed up of battery life and wanted something more suited for running and triathlon. My kids have a variety of hand me down Apple Watches and garmins and they get very frustrated at how bad the Apple Watch is for sports recording compared to the garmins.

The battery is voodoo in my 955 - I charge it for maybe 30 minutes a week, with the occasional longer charge to fill it up. It used 50% to record a full Ironman (13ish hours of HRM connection, full GPS, no battery saver turned on, connected to bike sensors). The 255 isn’t as good but is still incredible. Sleep tracking is good - duration and “quality” agree with my own observations so I trust it.

I have one and it’s one of my favourite bits of tech I’ve ever owned. I use it for lots of different sports, I used workouts for running, I wear it 24/7 for all the day to day fitness monitoring. Battery life is insane, I rarely charge it and use it for on average 6-10 hours a week of recording exercise. I have a nice collection of watches and wear none of them because I absolutely always wear my 955.

I have a Garmin 955 and cannot recommend it highly enough.

I use my forerunner 955 for everything

955 is an amazing watch/ value. However, the big problem is that the bloody watch won’t die. It’ll last 5-6 years with no issue. So you won’t have the latest bells and whistles, but it’ll just keep on trudging along effortlessly

i have a 955 and it still has all of the up to date software to my knowledge, except for what is limited by hardware and the triathlon dynamic training plan. It is still a very suitable watch for most people. I find the MIP screen to be okay. It doesnt look as good as the OLED screens, and there is no debating that. But I would personally prefer the better battery life over an OLED. I did a hike last weekend, and the battery went from nearly full to 37% over the course of 8 hours elapsed with the navigation screen and "auto-select" GPS mode, which is about the minimum of what I'd tolerate as far as battery life.

I’ve had my 955 since 2022 and it’s still awesome. Battery has barley degraded. I still get a solid week or more out of it. I plan on keeping it until it dies or until Garmin brings MIP back to the forerunner line. No clue why there was not one offered for the 970.

955 has touchscreen, training readiness, lots more storage, WiFi, more activities..

Had it for a couple months and I love it! I would probably get two weeks with no GPS use. I get 8 or nine days using it 4-5 times on runs about an hour long. The music function works great but significantly uses more battery. I’ve only used it a few times.

Instinct battery life is great, but it doesn't have maps. You can put a course on it and it will buzz when you need to turn, but the 955/965 enduro/epix/fenix lines all have built in maps where you can see roads, topolograpic lines, and other points of interest.

955 is the best deal

Agreed, got it for 350 USD

I have the forerunner 955 on a small-ish wrist as a woman. It looks a bit big, but I don't mind...

I assume they want it for the mip screen. I have a 955, and if I had to replace it, I would strongly consider another 955 because I don't want an AMOLED screen. Currently considering a fr55 for my son for Christmas, since his bounce died, and he's 12 and looking to join the track team this year. Deciding between a 55 and 165...

It's not the same as buying a used garmin. Only if it is a 955. A 955 is software wise the same watch as the 965. The mip screen is allways on, is better readable in the sun. In less lighter circumstances the 955 has a backlight which will do the job for making the screen readable. If you like more colors and a brighter screen, pay the extra and buy a 965, instead of a 955: you will get less batterylife if allways on or have fun with turning on the watch by turning your wrist.

I agree with u/FailOk251 . I would go with the Garmin 955. The sleep tracking may not be as good. But after years(and years) of wearing different watches for sleep tracking, they are not that different in terms of accuracy over the long-term. Also, I tried the PW3 for swimming and it doesn’t do a good job at all when it comes to feature set for swimming. I swim with a 955 and it’s very visible underwater. The buzz is more noticeable as well when it comes to alerts under water. Also, you have maps on the 955 which is really helpful for open water swimming. The PW 3 does non of that. It’s fine for running and maybe a nice activity tracker. But that is all. I was really disappointed when I tried it for swimMing. The other issue is accurate HR. The Garmin can do relatively good job with HR and if you want better, you can get a chest strap. The PW couldn’t even lock into HR. What I’ve come to peace with is this.… I wear the Garmin for my workouts and a smartwatch for other times. I have to admit, I hate the compromise. But here I am. Hope this helps a bit.

I have been playing with the strength app on a fenix 8 and my FR 955. I am trying to figure out if Strength activity affects other metrics like training readiness, endurance, body battery, training status etc, differently than if you just select Cardio activity and track your sets reps weights elsewhere. Do you know the answer to that?

Garmin is a far superior running experience, for me, as it does a great native job of handling all the runs and pacing, whether on the road or the track. For long runs, I’ll regularly create routes in Garmin Connect (or PlotARoute, and then import). I connect it to YouTube Music for audio while I’m out there. Plus, I get turn-by-turn route guidance with Garmin. My Apple Watch is a better “smart watch,” and I miss the integration with Health, but I find the friction of getting ready for a long run so much easier with Garmin. I tried for ~18 months with the Apple Watch, and it was just a series of compromises to get things “easy.” The WatchOS 26 “buddy” functionality pushed me over the edge to fully abandon Apple as a watch for fitness. I also use just the “native” Garmin experience, while I found myself juggling 3-4 different apps with Apple (WorkOutdoors for mapping, Apple Fitness, Runna). Even indoor runs are easier because of Garmin’s ability to calibrate after a run, and it does a great job of correcting paces.  This is my comparing a Forerunner 955 with the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Same with the 955. I love it! Sadly there are no plans for a new forerunner with MIP display 😢

I've the 955 and I use it for weitghlifitng as well. I upload my custom workouts in the connect app(web version works better) and I've everything in my watch. It usually gets the reps pretty well, specially after the first one. You just need to correct a few times and it detects the movement well enough afterwards. The exercises that struggle the most are leg oriented ones where there is no movement of the wrist. Ie leg press or benched leg curl, hip trust (if you don't grab the barbell while duing the exercise) , etc.

Get one of the Forerunners. Take it off your wrist and wrap it around the handlebar if you want better visibility. As someone who has actually done this for years, it works perfectly fine. A computer is a nice luxury for a cyclist but isn't NEEDED if you have a Garmin watch. (my current setup as a runner/cyclist is 955, Edge 840, and HRM)

It depends - the 955 was I believe the last top of the line Forerunner that had a MIP display - some people prefer it over the brighter, sharper AMOLED display. The MIP display may not be as bright, but it's always on, has better battery life, and personally, I think is better for an all purpose "sports watch" than AMOLED. I use mine for running and backpacking mostly (I have an Edge for cycling) and the long battery life is important to me, and I prefer the always on feature. That being said the AMOLED display is brighter, higher resolution, and certainly more vibrant - it's more smart watch like without a doubt. Whichever you prefer will be personal based on your uses. I'm still rocking a 935 from 2018.

I'm a 955 owner, and I just replied the same. But I also looked it up and there really isn't anything missing from the 255/265 that I would miss on a daily basis. EDIT: However... It seems like the Garmin comparison is leaving out load ratio, acute load... Which I use every day! 955 it clearly is

You might be right. I went by this comparison, as I really couldn't understand there was no difference. Some features might have been added later. https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/garmin-forerunner-265-vs-garmin-forerunner-965

You might be right. I went by this comparison, as I really couldn't understand there was no difference. Some features might have been added later. https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/garmin-forerunner-265-vs-garmin-forerunner-965

Real-time stamina, endurance score... Some segments... I didn't actually know that there was THIS little difference between them. That surprised me. There literally isn't a core feature of my 955 that I would miss on the 265 EDIT: However... It seems like the Garmin comparison is leaving out load ratio, acute load... Which I use every day!

It's the 955 and it's not even close. It has more functions than every Garmin Forerunner except the new 970 - and more than the brand new 570. Its the same watch as the 965, just with a different screen.

It's a crazy expensive watch. I've run for 30 years and there is nothing in the 970, that I need, that the 955 doesn't have, at 1/3 the price.

I don't use the map function (unless I'm VERY lost), but doesn't the 955 and it's 965 do that too?

I got my 955 about 14 months ago for $350. I wouldn’t pay full price. That said I do absolutely love the watch

👆Answered. BTW I am FR955 owner.

I have been using 955 for the past 10 days (my first smartwatch ever), just love it including the MIPs. I bought initially for its large storage for music and leaving phone at home when I run. I also like its lightweight for running, It seems only Bluetooth drains the battery for my use.

The 955 is quite an old watch now although some of the features are the same as the later models, the newer ones are just a bit more refined, but seeing as you’ve never had a Garmin before you wouldn’t notice the difference between the two. Don’t expect any smart functions like an Apple Watch Garmin watches are really just good sport watches. If you can maybe look at some of the newer ones that fit your price range just baring in mind the forerunner series watches leans heavy into running related features and metrics. Other brands to consider is Coros, I love my Garmin but when it shits the bed I’ll probably look at Coros as a replacement they are very much on par with design and function as Garmin but at a bit better price point on some watches, also Coros has a really good app for you to plan workouts and analyse your data. Suunto is another one that used to be the elite watch for mountain sport but in the last 6 or so years they had fallen behind but have been releasing new watches that seem to be a lot better than what they had to offer a few years ago.

Most or even any will do the job. But if you're planning on going beyond that, you're keeping it for a few good years and want to account for battery wear, plus you want maps then the 955 is my recommendation.

We've honestly reached a point of diminishing return with watches similar to phones I believe. I'm very happy with my 955, it's better than my old Suunto Spartan in many ways and does exactly the job I want it to do. Battery life is good, even after two years of daily use. The only thing I've come to regret from my former Suunto is the sapphire glass. For the price, I'd have liked it. Don't think a newer watch would have anything of value to justify the extra cost.

I got a 955 last week and I am very happy with it. Initially I was a little nervous because it was a big purchase (for me) but so far I can't fault it. It does everything that I want it to do and to be honest with you it probably does stuff that I didn't even discover yet. Purchased new for just under £300.

The forerunner 955 is available for just under £300, I ordered one a few days ago

In England the forerunner 955 is reduced to £300, perhaps you can find a similar deal where you are? I just got it a few weeks ago and I'm very happy with it

Definitely still being regularly updated (as someone else said, Lactate Threshold was recently added, which is a really cool metric to automatically be calculated (you used to have to do a special run to get this)). I don't think Garmin is the kind of company that abandons older models, as I regularly see most of the set having updates. From personal experience of having the 955 for 18 months, I love it, and feel I can fully rely on it. It never crashes, lasts for ages (it really is 15 days battery, usually), and is super reliable/accurate. I've taken it on a 2 day 100km ultra marathon, with full GPS throughout, and it was fantastic at tracking everything and still had battery by the end! ((For HR, I have a chest strap though, as none of these watches can compare to proper ECG.))

I would say all of them are pretty overkill, I started with 955 (got for $310) then bought an Enduro 3 cause FOMO. I didn't gain anything from the upgrade. I gifted the 955 to someone, the main reason I went ahead with the upgrade. If I didn't get the 955 for that price, I would have just bought a 255 for like low 200s, but that deal went away. If you plan to wear 24/7 and aren't financially stressed, I see no problem buying the fancier models. Fenix 8 with the 20% Blue Cross Blue shield seems like a killer price.

If maps aren't needed the 255 is your go to option, or the 265 if you prefer amoled. Bought a 955 last week, basically for every day use, running and health insights. Did weeks of reading reviews and comparisons. But am really happy with this one.

Still the 955. Like the MIP screen, the bigger screen, MAPS and the longer battery life.

Maps let me use the 955 as a bike computer and nav for new routes. Agreed that it's rare I use it but it is a necessity some days.

FR 955 ftw

955 is still the best Forerunner ever made, and likely will remain so in perpetuity given the recent direction of Garmin's product development

If you can afford the difference definitely 265 Swim 2 was released in 2019. 265 was released in 2023 so is much newer with better internals. Previously had swim 2, now have 955

I had a Garmin Forerunner 35 for ages. Had all the basic functions I wanted, and kept going for years. The heart rate monitor eventually died, and could not be mended or replaced, so I upgraded to the Forerunner 955 (then the top of the range) and I’ve been completely happy with it. I was dithering about getting a Fenix, but decided against it because it looked wrong on my wrist (they are chunkier) However when I was trying to decide based on the specs, I couldn’t tell them apart. I don’t think there’s a wrong choice here

Second this! I've used FitBit, Apple, and Garmin. Garmin is definitely my favorite. Even if you're not a runner, it's still amazing to use. It offers a lot of great metrics for sleep, health, and performance. I personally have the Forerunner 955, but any Forerunner will be more than enough.

Can def recommend the 945 or 955 the 965 is the upgrade . My favourite function is can save music on watch so can play with just earphones in gym , even had waterproof earphones used to swim with .

If you can find a 945 LTE it’s the same inners are the 955 and has almost all the same features plus LTE.

I think you already got your answer but I bought 955a few weeks ago as well and it's awesome

Maybe the MIP siblings of the fr 265/965. You lose the bright and crisp AMOLED display but get the almost the same watch at a huge discount. The 955 is cheaper than the 265 in my region.

My wife has the vivoactive 5. She recently started running and finds it rather basic compared to the running metrics and functionalities I get from my forerunner. The things she would like to have the most, that are not on the Vivoactive, are Daily Suggested Workout and breadcrumb trails.

I can't tell you anything about the swimming aspect of the watch, but for running I would recommend the Forerunner 955. It's below € 500. It has everything a runner like myself needs (and so much more). It does have a MIP display, but that hasn't bothered me at all.

There’s also the 955 to consider. I like the maps feature. I use it sometimes for routing a lot of times so I know the remaining distance and remaining climbs I have left on a bike ride or a run. Sometimes I don’t use a route but will use the navigate back to start or loop to start feature when I’m heading back for the same reason.

Yeah, the nice thing about the PW is that its user serviceable. You can change out the screen and battery. I hope other manufacturers decide to follow this example. It also has LTE and satellite and okay battery life. On the other hand, the forerunner has buttons which I prefer.

If you're just jumping into Garmin, go for the 955. If you like it, you can always sell and upgrade. Low risk entry.

Think hard if You’re gonna use the navigation. If You hike a lot, then take 955, it’s still a fantastic watch. If You only plan to use it for regular sport activities like running or gym, the 255 is exactly the same watch, just without navigation.

I was looking for Garmin FR255 but suddenly found FR955 in the sale for like 350eur, just grabbed it. So happy with it. This year did 3day 75km hike with it. it endured all way. Just died in last stretch of 1km. which was finish line area of event. It recorded like over 30hours of activity. Which I was not expecting.

Lightweight and more budget friendly is the 955 and 965 (mip and amoled), then you have the same as you are used to, the Fenix 7 will have the training readiness and DSW with mip display, or Epix/Fenix 8 (cheaper/expensive) for amoled. It will all depend on budget. The coros and suunto are not so strong options for the maps. But your Fenix 6 should have daily suggested workout, except the option to see weekly suggested workouts I think.

Holy hot damn. I have a 255 I love but for that price .... The 955 isn't much different than the 255. The 955 gives you topo maps. The only thing I wish I had. My problem.... the screen resolution of the 955 is 260x260. The 965 has a 454x454 screen. I might need to wait a few years to upgrade my 255 to the 965 when that watch is cheaper. I think the 955 is a damn good watch. Depending on what your current watch is it's well worth an upgrade. If you have no watch and it is in budget I'd 100% go for it! Here ya go: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garmin\_Forerunner#Feature\_comparison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garmin_Forerunner#Feature_comparison)

If you’re okay with the MIP screen (i am fine with it, does not look great), feature wise it’s powerful and on par with newer versions of FR, go for it

I think the 955 is a really solid bet just cos you can get it for the cheapest price and feature wise it's on par with the more recent 965 and 970. You won't be sacrificing much (as far as I'm aware)

I’d also recommend going for a Forerunner. Forerunners are built for running and can be used for swimming. An Instinct 2 lacks for example Garmin Run Coach, which the Forerunners have.

IMHO Apple does fitness tracking better than Garmin. Esp. sleep tracking is more accurate, plus you get ECG on most Apple Watches. In the US, blood oxygen tracking is currently disabled for new Apple Watches. Btw. I am wearing both, Garmin and Apple (I like redundancy for marathons, plus my Apple Watch has LTE, while my Forerunner does not)

255 is great if you can do without maps (at least it can show a track that you upload to it). 955 has full blown maps. Do you dislike straps in general, or just chest straps? Because Polar has really good arm straps. Like the Polar Verity Sense.

>It's actually not bad, it's just a compromise you MUST take I don't like compromises. So I wear an Apple Watch and a Garmin Forerunner.

I use both, Apple Watch and Garmin (one on each wrist). IMHO, Apple Watch does better health tracking and offers a wider range of devices to contribute data. As well as more apps. Apple really shines in sleep tracking and I have the feeling that Apple’s wrist based HR sensor is better than Garmin’s. I am using a Forerunner, so it’s not the newest Garmin tech, but my Apple Watch is a Series 8, so not the newest gen either). I really like Garmin for training. And the HRM Pro Plus is the best heart rate monitor I ever had.

I saw the presentation on AppleTV of the new Apple Watch and the only advantage that the APW has over my FR955 is the blood pressure simulation and the warnings about the possibility of a heart attack, otherwise I only saw (improved) features that have already existed in my FR955 for at least 2 years, not to mention that the battery only lasts 24 hours, compared to the 15 days of the Garmin Forerunner 955. Apple has a lot to learn from Garmin.

Was it released after 955?

Haha, np, I am pretty set on the 955, but if the 255 was newer I would have had to re-evaluate that 😅

if AMOLED isn't important, then definitely 955, it's great value

955 is probably the best buy for the price and functionality .it's basically 965 at 265 price with better battery life

I’m guard, but I’ve never had an issue with my Forerunner 955 in the field or on jumps. They’re all pretty hearty in my experience. I just have a screen protector on mine and I’ve had no issues.

Great I’ve learn something today for the strap. I need to look that up. But 955 is a great watch.

I have a 955 mainly for running. And will use it for golf when I go out a few times a year. Gives you hole distances and distance to green. Don't use the range finder as much except for par 3s. For running it has everything you'd want or need. Screen could be nicer tho

The 955 is an excellent option. All the features you could possibly need coming from and Apple Watch and I’m sure you’ll be happy with it.

Which training features would you miss on the 265 versus the 955? The 955 has maps, that would be a factor for me personally, but when breadcrumb is enough, I'd definitely go for the 265 (which I did a few weeks ago, great watch).

955 is an absolute beast and I'll have mine until it dies... which may be never. It's light, it's rugged, the battery lasts forever, it has mapping, and it just *works*. I personally find AMOLED screens unnecessary and distracting, and that's really the only drawback people will cite about the 955. It's quite possibly the most perfect watch ever created. TLDR; The 955 is the 🐐

I just got a 955 three weeks ago. Still works for me - you’ll love charging it once a week.

I’d at least go for 955 over 255

Go for the FR 955. I initially got a Venue 3 (switched over from Apple Watch) and decided I wanted maps and a more sports focused watch. Don’t care for the overly rugged look of the other watches but the Forerunner is literally perfect. Could not be happier.

I would avoid 165, it seems to me so software crippled - doesnt even have so basic running watch feature as AutoScroll data screens during activities. Would recommend 255, 955 or 265 if amoled is a must. You dont need any subscription for any Garmin features.

I bought the 955 a few weeks ago and I've been enjoying it. The MIP screen was my only real reason for possibly choosing a different one. I definitely did want an AMOLED screen but I couldn't justify spending $200+ for similar features for the 965. Not sure if it is still on sale, but I got mine for $350 from the Garmin site, was also on Amazon for that for prime day.

I love my forerunner 955, not as bulky as fenix and has all the tracking data and functions that I need for 70.3 (and pretty much the exact same features that fenix has). I would go for amoled if I had a choice now though.

If you don't care about new features and you are budget constrained, get the 955. If you are budget conscious but want the current gen OS look at the 570 (which is the forerunner version of the new venu 4) If you have the room to invest in the 970, i'd get the 970... "buy once cry once". The 955 is on maintenance mode - still getting fixes, but won't get new features. The 970 is flagship watch - tied with the HRM 600 it brings in flagship metrics. Do you need it? only you can decide. The 570 - comes in much more affordable and is the forerunner option of the new Venu 4. If budget is a constraint, i may recommend the 570 over the 955 simply because the 570 will see more new features, have the latest code and be future compatible. if you really need full fledged maps, it's best to plop down on 970 I'd weigh more on the 970 too if you are into endurance running - marathons/ultras or trail running or getting into activities where the maps could prove useful for pacepro and such

Don't listen to people convincing you that they love their MIPS screen 😂 I know it sounds hypocritical but it's a very niche thing that you either love or hate, nothing in between. MIPS users are a very vocal minority. After you use both and realize there's no need to have a "thing" on all the time, AMOLED looks better in all conditions, especially in the dark. There's a reason majority of new sport watches coming out are in AMOLED.  That aside, the Garmin is an old model that is probably abandoned from software perspective. Coros is lighter, looks better, and battery lasts longer

Price for value? Forerunner 955

Forerunner 955 is probably the best value for your money today. Good storage for music, maps, metrics you’d want in a watch you keep for the next 5+ years

I've just bought one because I too feel it may be the last MIP watch.

The silliest thing I can mention about the 955 (and later models) is the switch to Garmin Quickfit instead of Quick Release. What on earth was that about? The model you buy doesn't even use the Quickfit strap. The older Quick release was perfect. [https://support.garmin.com/en-GB/?faq=DZfMTnLxxI4W5zYfsA2SL6](https://support.garmin.com/en-GB/?faq=DZfMTnLxxI4W5zYfsA2SL6)

I went from 245S to 955. It's bigger but clearer. I really wanted HRV and Stamina and full maps. If anyone needs to understand more there is a full video review here [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/06/forerunner-955-review-complete-beginners.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/06/forerunner-955-review-complete-beginners.html)

I switched from an Apple Watch to a Garmin forerunner 955 a few years ago. I used the Apple Watch when training for a my first two 70.3’s. Overall it was functional and did what I needed. But within a week of switching to the Garmin I realized I will NEVER go back to Apple Watch. The Garmin is just so much better in every way. You lose a few “smart watch” type features, but the metrics, data, tracking, training plans, insight, is all so much better on the Garmin. And the battery life is incredible. My wife held on to her Apple Watch for a few years after I switched to Garmin, she loved all the smart watch features that Apple has, and had a really hard time with the idea of giving it up. She got a forerunner 265 about a month ago and has already said she will never go back to the Apple Watch. For training it’s just far superior.

I’m currently using a Suunto Race S and after a serious number of issues with BT connectivity and bugs I am escalating the issue with support to return it. I’m training for a marathon so Im looking for a good reliable GPS watch with good features. After using the Race S I’m not too concerned about AMOLED, MIP is perfectly good and to be honest I like the look of it as well. The always on display is also a great bonus. My concern is whether the 955, being a couple of years old, will be kind of ‘forgotten’ by Garmin for firmware updates etc. I’m able to buy the 955 for around 370-400 EUR at the moment which I think is a great deal. Do you all think it’s still worth it at this point or should I be looking elsewhere? Looking forward to hearing all your thoughts and thanks! Update: ended up going for it and love the screen and all the functionalities! The price was also worth it for sure. Took it out for a 29 km long run today and everything worked great, super happy with it.

I can’t comment specifically on your use case but personally the 955 has been absolutely great. Been using it for over a month now and the features really work well together. I don’t at all miss the Suunto. If you’re looking for a really lightweight (for the size) watch loaded with features and MIP screen, the FR955 is the one imo

- 255 music if you want bare bones utility at an unbeatable price - 955/965 if you care about mapping - My personal choice: 265 for the better screen if you can find one at a reasonable price (~$350) Oh, and DO NOT get the 570 under any circumstances. Heavy on its price, light on features compared to anything else.

Had it since launch. It's been wonderful but over the weekend I got a 970. First off, the non solar has a much better MIP screen than any solar. I looked at getting a Tactix 8 or Fenix solar but as soon as I tried both on they were a massive disappointment and would never consider them. Tbh, while I thought I would not be thrilled with the transition to amoled, in all honesty I have no real negatives. You can customize it to be whatever you like. To me the 955 will be like my blackberry phone from years ago which I would easily call "a classic" and one is the best of its time. But unfortunately it no longer has a place in my wrist.

Interesting about the times you fall asleep. I feel mine is super accurate there (955) but does miss out on naps sometimes.

955 gets naps no problem as long as they are at expected nap times. For example I've had mornings where I'll wake up and make lunch for the kiddo for school at 7am. I'll assume I'm up for the day and will view my morning report so now the watch knows I'm up up. But then I'll go lay down and doze off again for 30 mins. In those instances it has never recorded a nap. But at 1pm after a bike ride, same scenario and it will show a nap.

Late to the party here, but do you wear yours full time? I'm a 955 guy and I forget that I have it on but feel the weight of the Fenix would be noticeable including at night for sleep metrics.

There were some limitations of the 165 that made me choose the 265. The features can be compared on the Garmin site. And chances are, some reputable reviewer such as DesFit or DCRainmaker has made an in deep comparison between the two. Ahhh... here is one https://youtu.be/pD77vx9x0Ig?si=o9NNSmrrqm29_RrO I was reluctant to get the 955 because I know I do not need navigation on my watch and the 900 series are pretty big watches (I wear them at night to also monitor sleep). But function-wise, it is a good choice. Especially if you prefer a MIP screen. From a budget vs. function perspective, the 255Music is a great running watch....if I crashed my 265 today, I'd likely get one. I'm still bemoaning the MIP display that I gave up with getting the 265.

Vivoactive and Venu (non X1, that thing should have had a name of its own) don't have the advanced running metrics. So it's Forerunner , then check whether the features you want are in Instinct, Fenix, Enduro or Epix if you like one of those better.

Vivoactive or Forerunner would be my vote! As a runner I’ve used both, FR 255 to Vivoactive 5 then back to FR 955. I prefer the extra training and recovery metrics that FR provides, but both are great

The *55 series is only a year older than the *65 series and has the same generation HR sensor, GNSS chipset, etc. The software is almost the same between the two, including a lot of the recent updates like a meditation activity, passcode, and auto lactate threshold detection. Arguably the FR *55 is more up to date than the Fenix 7 series which is a sore point for Fenix owners. So 955 vs 965 isn't really that big of a difference besides the much higher resolution, much brighter and more colorful screen. Some of the other reason people are recommending older devices is because the difference between high end and mid range is bigger right now than the difference between generations, so for example battery life is better on a 955 vs a 570, or the number of running metrics is higher on a 955 vs a 570. The screen is better on a 570 vs a 955 though so technology advances have brought some good updates to mid range.

If running is your main focus, both are solid choices, but here’s how I’d break it down: * **Forerunner 955** – better value at that price, especially since you’re getting full mapping, multi-band GPS, and longer battery life. If you do longer runs or want navigation on trails, you’ll definitely appreciate it. * **Forerunner 265/265S** – nicer AMOLED display, feels more modern, and the 265S will probably sit better on slimmer wrists. You’d be trading off some of the advanced mapping/navigation tools, though. For slim forearms, the **265S** is the most comfortable fit. The 955 isn’t overly bulky, but it’s still noticeably larger. If size/weight is a big concern, that could be the deciding factor. Personally, if you’re planning to do a lot of running-focused training with occasional multi-sport, the **955** is the best bang for your buck. But if aesthetics/comfort are more important and you’re not fussed about maps, the **265S** will feel like a better everyday wear.

Forerunner 955, great watch.

Depends on what health metrics you really want to track. Garmin are kind of the gold standard for sensors and all-day tracking. Apple is not far off from a sensor-hardware standpoint (in fact, they are kind of ahead), but something about their software and interpretations of sensor readings is kind of garbage....and battery life sucks. I have the Forerunner 955 for a host of reasons - always-on display (much easier to see in the sun than newer LEDs), hella long battery life, mapping/directions (downloadable), music storage, great HR monitor, excellent sleep tracking. Also, the weather and sunset/sunrise functions are nice. I do not use it for calls or messages at all. Bought mine during a sale for around $320 and have not regretted it one bit.

Overall, you can't go wrong with either of the watches and both will more than meet all your needs as a new runner. However, if you are okay with or prefer the MIP screen, I would highly recommend the 955. Check out [Garmin | Product Compare](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=886785&compareProduct=886725) Select "Show Only Differences" Overall 955 is classified as "Elite running" while 265 is "Advanced Running". Some of the features that I love about my 955 (which do not seem to be on the 265 based on above): 1. Hill Score 2. Heat and Altitude Acclimation 3. Real time Stamina and Endurance Score.

With the forerunner 955, Garmin integrated more the daily suggestions with Garmin Coach. To use it you just have to find the marathon that you plan to do in the events and the daily suggestions will do the rest. You just won’t have a “coach” and motivational videos, but it’s not 2 totally separated functions anymore.

I bought mine in July 2022. I'm still using mine, and it's still being updated. I love it. I run 4-5 times per week, wear it all the time. Battery is still great, still has full functionality. *

I agree. I have the 955, purchased new in 2022 and my battery lasts about 2 weeks in between charges if I'm not using the GPS function on my activities. For a big mountain run if you are using GPS it will be a much bigger drain on the battery but still a week or more on a single charge. Those are some fast PRs OP. Congrats

I'm on year 2 or 3 of mine now, I lost track. I love it. Battery life is it's best feature for me, I usually easily get 1 week of battery. I tend to just plug it in when I take my shower in the morning and I've been fine. The stats are amazing, feels pretty accurate (body battery was a game changer when trying to understand why a workout is very difficult all of a sudden). My issue though is I have a hard time getting correct heart rate readings when the watch is on my arm with the watch face pointing out. Lately, I've been putting the watch face pointing towards me instead and that has been better.

Just got the 955 last week and seeing everyone still recommending it is great.

Bought one around October last year for 359 EUR, very happy with it. I also tried some OLED watches: 965, Suunto Race S, Coros Pace Pro and didn't like them. I'll take OLED for all my screens but prefer MIP for my watch.

I went with 955 because i love MIP screens, its always on and visible in direct lighting

FR965 (AMOLED) or 955 if you like MIP. Fenix 8 Pro should also release soon. I'd advice against the 970 unless you can get it for same price as 965. It's smaller with a smaller battery but has call/speaker and a flashlight.

Garmin 955! On sale for 350, seems tough so far and I charge minimally.

Forerunner 955. lineageos shouldn't be a problem, the garmin connect app is standalone

955 has better battery life, is cheaper, has MIP. That's three clesr advantages.

If you really only ever cycle you could get the 540/840/1040/1050 edge computers. If you do more sports or just want a watch get a watch like the forerunmer 955/965/970. Also get a chest strap in any case.

FR935/945/955/965 all have maps. No need for Fenix.

The 2x5 line is much better for running than the 165, so I wouldn't recommend the 165. I find that Garmin watch are pretty bad at handling audio content (music, but especially podcasts and audiobooks). Coming from running only my Apple Watch, I switched to running with my 255 and my phone. So personally, I wouldn't recommend getting the music version. As for the 955, it does have maps and little more over the 255/265. It really comes down to how much you like to run in new places where maps are needed (and even then, the breadcrumbs map on the 255 can be handy).

I have a Forerunner 955 and have been using it with my Concept2 row erg. It connects directly to the erg and can record things like stroke data, distance, etc. I also program workouts through the Garmin website that I'm able to use while rowing. Additionally, I use Garmins HRM Pro heart rate monitor, which provides very accurate heart rate data to both my watch and the erg (so I can see my heartrate on the erg monitor, without glancing at my wrist). If you don't have a Concept2, your mileage may vary. Garmin watches can track metrics like workout duration or heart rate regardless of activity type, but other rowers may not provide activity-specific data like the Concept2 does.

I think that's a good call. I was a little confused by some of what I read online before picking up the rower because some of the earlier or lower end Garmin watches evidently did not receive much data from the erg. However, I've been impressed by the level of integration with my FR955. It ended up being pretty straightforward to get them up and running together but feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the setup.

What's the price difference? The 955 is often on sale for almost half the price of the 965. I'd search for a good deal and go with the 955. Is one of the best values you can find. You get virtually all the top sports features for a fraction of the price.

Yeah, if you don't care about AMOLED then there's little reason to pay more for the 965. I'd save some money and get the 955.

Garmin is still selling the 255, 955, 265, and 965. Those are much better value than the 570. The price of the 570 puts it in such a bad spot sandwiched between better options. The watch is fine but it should've been a 2xx level pricing. It's the 265 successor after all.

The 955, it's a no-brainer imo. You get almost all the top features, great battery, etc. One of the best values you can get from Garmin. The 265 and, the 965 for that matter, have no advantage over the 955. The exception is amoled and looks, but these are subjective and a lot of people prefer MIPS.

You can get two 955 for the price of the 970 and still have money to spare. If durability was an issue...

What data do you think you're missing? Some of the alternatives may offer the data you're looking for. I'd rather get the Venu 4 than the FR 570 but both are overpriced imo. You can get the FR 965 on sale for less and it has way more features. The 955 has a lot more features and it's way cheaper. If size is an issue, the 265 is cheaper and has basically all the sports features of the 570. Same for the even cheaper 255. Both are available in 42mm or 41mm size. I'd make sure to compare the differences line by line because 570 is not an obvious improvement compared to the other options.

if you need maps buy 965, if not go for 265. If you even do not need OLED go 255. If you need battery go for the one with more battery capability. Don’t get fooled by fancy metrics you’ll never use. I have a 955. Very happy with it. I was happy also with my 245 without mapping and using the preloaded tracks. Only reason I upgraded was screen size e possibility to have 5 fields on the screen. Other than that it was perfect, and I still miss how it was disappearing on my wrist in terms of weight, bulkiness and band size. Consider used to try it out or go to a local shop to play with it and see how it feels at your wrist. Also consider a nylon band (ultrafit by garmin or a similar amazon one) since it is mor stretchy, secures better, breaths better then silicon.

if you need oled no maps go 265. If you need no oled no maps 255. If you need maps and oled 965, if you need maps no oled 955. Must say I was also happy with my 245 using preloaded tracks to follow (you just do not have tha background image only a track. I switche to 955 because I needed more fields on my screen (fr245 had only 4) and I do trail running. I am happy with my 955 but I dont really am a fun of maps, I still use my phone for that. I could have been ok with the slicker and lighter 255. I still miss how the 245was disappearing on my wrist in terms of weight, bulkiness and band size. Consider to buy used to try it out or go to a local shop to play with it and see how it feels at your wrist. Also consider a nylon band (ultrafit by garmin or a similar amazon one) since it is more stretchy, secures better, breaths better then silicon. Trust me, you dont need touch screen on a sport watch. Garmin one is also bad in my experience. Also dont get fooled by fancy metrics you will never use.

955 is even better with training readiness, $200 second hand. The battery is better than on the 965 / 970 with AOD on. Maps are better on LED though.

True, but I changed like 5 used Garmin watches until I settled for 955, no issues. Same with edge devices. You can ask for the original bill. I also meet in person to buy.

Garmin just updated it a few months ago to add lactate threshold and other features. So it's not "forgotten" by Garmin at least yet..

I have a forerunner 955 and am very happy with all the points above. But yes hr precision requires other hardware :) 

...unless you prefer MIP. In which case the 955 is the one of the last of the best.

Pretty happy with my forerunner 955’s battery. I’ve got all the sensors and gps maxed out and it lasts over a week easy. Some things with Garmin are annoying such as blood oxygen levels not being synced to Apple health for no good reason at all(among some other metrics) They make strange software choices! Like not updating models from just a year ago. And I noticed, the Forerunner 965 had less music app compatibility than the older 955, that’s why I got it instead.

I had the 945 and then, thinking I left it in a hotel, upgraded to the 955. 18+ months later and its still a great watch. The biggest change from the 945 to the 955 is the way that running workouts were implemented. On the 945, if I was doing an interval, the interval pace used the average pace. For short & fast intervals, this wasn't very useful. The 955 fixed this problem and uses my instant pace for alerting me if I'm hitting the range (pace, HR, power...whatever). As for all of the other metrics...its fully compatible with all of Garmin's advanced metrics still and gives access to the new journaling feature. I honestly can't imagine what I would want off of a new watch that I don't get today

955 FR reporting in, I charge mine like once every 2 weeks

I bought the 955 because of its features and I am lucky because I vastly prefer MIP over AMOLED. If I had to pick between more features or screen, I'd still pick features every time. You are in a tough position and I think you will have buyers remorse no matter what.

I've got Runna on annual sub and genuinely do not use it at all. Garmin Coach / Daily Suggestions is also pretty basic IME. What I would do is get a Garmin 55 for £117 (Going via one of the discount links like HealthServiceDiscounts) and then either use TrainAsOne (free version for a few months - after premium free trial - and then if you like it buy the annual sub for £75 on Black Friday), OR, buy a Stryd for £139 with the £8.99 monthly membership for 6 months. If you don't like the Stryd you'll be able to sell it for about £100. I've had a 955 and currently have an Epix 2 and tbh it's only the maps that I really use that I think I would miss in a more basic watch. Some of the stats are sort of fun to look at, but you can get more meaningful and arguably more accurate stats using Runalyze (for free). Oh and get a chest heart rate monitor - a cheap Coospro one will be fine. Edit - actually, you know what, I reckon (check) you could just stick with the Apple Watch and use TrainAsOne and/or Stryd. TrainAsOne will soon be integrating with Stryd AIUI.

Why not 955 then? 965 is twice the price of 255

955 also has a touch screen

That’s what I got recently. Figured it’s likely the last mip Garmin so I can always get an amoled on my next one

Oh my bad I meant 955

The 955 is my first Garmin watch so I don’t have anything to compare it to, but I was using maps religiously for about a week in North Carolina and they came in clutch so many times. There was several times where a trail wasn’t very worn, but the Garmin told me exactly where to go or a trail with a fork and I didn’t know if I was continuing on my trail or was about to get on the Appalachian Trail. I don’t run far enough away from my home to get any use from maps on my runs (maybe if I was running in a foreign area on vacation it would be great though), but for hiking, it was an absolute cheat code. Here’s some perspective on my purchase. Target had them on sale for $350 not too long ago and I would’ve been just fine with the 255 80% of the time but for the 2 or 3 weeks out of the year that I’ll actually need maps while hiking or hunting, it was worth the small bump in price. The kind of thing I’d rather have and not need than need and not have. And as for the mip display, I wanted something that was truly always on the kind of thing where I can just look don’t at my wrist with no gesture and check the time. And I just wanted something more like a classic watch look and not looking like a smart phone on my wrist so that comes down to personal preference. I use the throw back forerunner face so it looks just like an old Casio or gshock but is actually a beast under the hood.

The instinct series might interest you as well, as they are more rugged with very long lasting battery. I have owned one in the past, then jumped to Forerunner 955 for the maps, then to Epix - for the flashlight and AMOLED screen, and now to Fenix 8 for the voice commands, taking phone calls from the watch. The new instinct 3 series have the flashlight too, and the 2X might have it as well (don't quote me on that) Best of luck, they're all great watches!

The 255 and 955 are maybe the best Forerunners Garmin has ever made. I bought the 255 in 2022 and still love it.

Many of us have been here. Just get the best Garmin you can afford and you’ll never look back. I bought the EPIX 2, and love it, but the Forerunner 9xx series are probably the best bang for buck if you’re into fitness training.

There is Garmin Swim (IMHO essentially it is a ForeRunner, but swim has been put in focus; review here https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/10/garmin-openwater-review.html). However, modern Garmin watches are all able to track pool swim as well as gym workouts (you might have to set exercises later in the app if you want to track muscle groups affected). Essentially ForeRunner is for runners mostly, Forerunner 9xx is focused on triathlon, Fenix is mostly for outdoors - but again, all of them can do almost the same. I’d go with Fenix if budget allows.

There is Garmin Swim (IMHO essentially it is a ForeRunner, but swim has been put in focus; review here https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/10/garmin-openwater-review.html). However, modern Garmin watches are all able to track pool swim as well as gym workouts (you might have to set exercises later in the app if you want to track muscle groups affected). Essentially ForeRunner is for runners mostly, Forerunner 9xx is focused on triathlon, Fenix is mostly for outdoors - but again, all of them can do almost the same. I’d go with Fenix if budget allows.

Fenix/Epix are the same, Forerunner 9xx has 99% same functions but a bit lighter and not as tall, but only available in one size

Ive bought a 9 series forerunner. Id come from an apple watch too, after the initial excitement of talking to it I just found it limited in functionality for sports. I'm very happy with the forerunner, itis not the Apple watch at all. It's excellent. I dont need any more if that helps.

I've used either a Forerunner 9xx or a Fēnix for about 6 years. If you give it about 5 minutes before you swim to leatch onto as many satellites as possible after it says it has a GPS fix it's pretty good. If you dive in as soon as you get the tick, it's crap.

V2 Form goggles will do all of that. On the plus side, they're cheaper than most watches that will do the same. On the minus side, they're expensive for goggles and they have no other uses. Edit: and I didn't read the land workout bit. Garmin Forerunner 9xx definitely meets your needs. I suspect the 2xx series will as well.

Here is my reason, have you noticed that the major reviewers even when they are testing Garmin or Suunto watches are always wearing the Apple Watch Ultra on their wrist? Here is why, as great as Garmin watches are and I back this statement up , I have owned 3 Fenix's and 2 forerunner 9 series over the years. Running and Cycling are in comparison small parts of my week, even though I run 30 K a week and cycle almost 200K a week. The rest of the week, I am an employee, check email, read and respond to texts, I am a husband, a father , a podcast / music listener , a walker ,a gym goer and the Apple Watch is just an all round everyday watch for me with all the smart features. Sorry for the long winded reply.... and with regards to your last comment, I totally agree , when I was a Garmin Wearer, 99% of the time I saw someone with a Garmin, it was easy to strike a conversation as they were a runner or a cyclist. With the apple watch.....not so much lol

For sports, always Garmin. No one else comes close for multisport watches, and I don't need a bunch of useless "smart watch" features that just waste battery.

solar garmin. everything i need, nothing i don't. paired with a polar HRM.

The same I was big on the Apple ecosystem and felt like it was a cool watch just because it integrated so well, but I never even downloaded any apps for it. All I ever used it for was timers and reminders and stuff like that and basic fitness tracking, and my forerunner does all the same stuffbut way better. Should’ve switched sooner

All true except advanced metrics. They are also present in Fenix (it has even more features for hiking) and Instinct. Forerunner is not more advanced. The rugedness is mostly about the bezel. In fenix and instinct it has a rim which gives extra protection to the screen. But that means rugged watches are more bulky what can be a problem in the gym. The real question is lightness of forerunner vs battery life of fenix /instinct

I’ve had and loved garmin forerunners and a coros pace. Slight preference for coros over garmin for battery life. Slight preference for garmin for multi-app interoperability.  I’m actually planning to buy an Apple Watch because it’s fine as a fitness tracker and has better health tracking capabilities on top of the fitness stuff. 

I have both and just got the forerunner. I really enjoy the fitness data from garmin. AW is just a superior smart watch and I am coming to the conclusion that I don’t need it any more. At my age I just need to focus more on my health and fitness.

Not having a screen doesn't really seem like much of a selling point. It's nice to have the watch function and access to other data bits on the screen. I have an older Garmin Forerunner that I've used for about 8 years.

I second this. My Garmin Forerunner has been going strong 4 years now.

Yes, they’re great. Make sure to download the connect app, that’s we’re all the useful data will be much easier to read.

The only time that I had issues with a Garmin watch they replaced the watch well over the warrant. I got a forerunner that lasted a lot (6 years?) and then I gave it to a friend. I'm sporting an almost 5 year old fenix and I got it second hand. The watches they make are sturdy

Garmin Forerunners are a great fitness watch.

I think if you primarily want to track those workouts and your alternative is not getting an Apple Watch, then it might be overkill in terms of money spent. I was coming from a forerunner and knew I wanted an Apple Watch so was going between an S10 and ultra 2 and don’t regret getting the ultra 2. Like you, I wanted the extra battery life and preferred the more rugged look

I've been an Apple Watch user for more than 7 years. Currently have Ultra 2. But I just got a Garmin Forerunner and love it. It's a refreshing change with superior data for me. On a practical note, I can use Spotify in the Garmin and it hasn't glitched on me once. Apple Watch is a disaster with playing music at the same time as running and this has held true for years over several different watches, watchOS versions and headphones. I like to row and the Garmin counts the strokes per minute whereas the Apple watch gives you no data. The built in training plans on Garmin are much better than having to pay for a subscription to Runna or Fitness+. The recovery insights through the day are better for me than Apple and don't require a third party app. The Find my iPhone equivalent feature on Garmin works better for me. Good luck with your AW but I'm enjoying the Garmin experience and I say that as a diehard Apple user.

My Garmin Forerunner does a decent job tracking lap swimming. It struggles with open water but I do'nt do that very often.

So I train with both the AWU2 and my Forerunner, and I’m a fan of each for different reasons. Never have I heard anyone complain about the GPS accuracy of an Ultra 2 though. I generally find my two watches are very close if I use them together but, if anything, the Ultra is always a bit closer to the mark, especially in areas that challenge GPS. Very odd what you’re saying here.

Where??? I’m really curious. All the reputable reviewers rave about Apple for accuracy of GPS (especially the Ultra, with its dual-band) and HR. Now when it comes to all the other fitness functionality it sucks big time haha. But, on the other hand, the Garmin is far worse from a smartwatch perspective and my AWU2’s cellular connectivity is above and beyond the thing I care most about on long, remote runs.

If you really end up getting into running, I would not suggest Vivioactive 5. The pace shown on the watch is NOT the pace you are running. You won’t see your actual pace until after you run and sync to the app. I’ve learned a way to know “appropriately” what pace I’m running by setting up the watch with .25 mile laps so it will show me the .25 average. Also, I start a separate run activity for both slower warmup and another one for the slower cool down. For weight workouts in the gym, I just use the cardio activity but it’s really just to see approximately how much time and calories I’m supposed earning. Pool workouts are decent for counting laps, just one lap off. Maybe the low-level Forerunner would have been a better option for my running. I’ve only had mine a few months but it’s durable. I’ve worn it doing lots of hiking, over rocks etc. But I’m also a little bit careful.

Coros or garmin pace or forerunner, if you like music while running get the garmin, if your more minimalist (smaller screen, simpler interface) get the coros

I turn it off on my garmin forerunner as it drives me mad and once it’s off you never get notifications. Even after system updates and stuff. Easy peasy

I would suggest any Fenix or even any forerunner over any vivoactive or venu of you're serious about training. Sure you can get by with most basic stuff on those watches but if you get serious about training or want better features you'll have wanted at least a forerunner model

I think it very much depends on what you want from a watch. I’m a big data nerd too and I really do enjoy my Garmin. The other nice thing is that Garmin has a pretty wide array watches that can cater to a beginner or advanced runner. Me personally? I had a forerunner for many years before I upgraded to the Enduro line due to battery life during 100k+ distance races.

Came to say the same… I had an Apple Watch, replaced it with a garmin forerunner for 1 month it was the worst! So inaccurate and when I’d swim in pools it would so often double count my lengths… I went back to Apple Watch

None of the forerunners have a metal bezel. They’re all solid colours. The Venu just looks better period , imo

I’ve worn a lot of watches and trackers. For a beginning runner I would get a Garmin Forerunner. I’ve owned the entry level and the Epix Pro ($1100). Garmin is the most consistent running tool I’ve owned

Update I bought a forerunner and used it a couple times but ended up returning it for the Venu 3. I am happy with my choice!!!

I got the Venu 3s and couldn’t be happier! Tried out the forerunner but hated the way it looked and I feel like their running tools/stats are incredibly similar

I just switched from AWU it FR 970 and it’s really not even a question. I LOVE the forerunner so much more.

Just “downgraded” from a Fenix to a Forerunner (about a month ago) and love it. The battery life of the Forerunner isn’t as great but it’s still good, about 7 days on one charge (using GPS once a day). Forerunner is less bulky. I have zero regrets with the switch.

I have a Garmin Forerunner, hopefully soon to upgrade to Fenix. Anyway, it has the quickfit watch strap, so I have an orange band on it all the time, and for formal occasions I have the chestnut leather band, takes all of 30s to swap them over 👍🏻

I’d check Facebook Marketplace for a used Garmin Forerunner. They are good watches for running and biking, and they also have good sleep-tracking if you decide to wear it 24/7.

This was my experience, too-- went from Apple watch to Forerunner and I'm glad that I made the leap. The tipping point for me was that the Apple watch battery was draining so fast on my rides that I was losing data, and I was charging it twice a day.

The forerunner is the same internals and same 1.4" OLED screen as all the other high end garmin watches. The heart sensor is elevate 4 instead of elevate 5. Otherwise its the same watch with different styling. You can put whatever watch face on the watch you prefer. You want it to look like any other watch, just use that watch face. Just don't get the extremely outdated MIP screen that the zealots keep pretending is a good choice even though it doesn't save any battery anymore and is only offered on the obsolete watches. Some people can't afford the new OLED screens so they want to say they are inferior, when they are just poor and can't afford current tech that is obviously better. It really comes down to the styling of the watch case, if you want it to be super oversized 51mm or normally only slightly oversized 47mm or you want the colored accents or the flashlight or whatever. Its a personal styling decision at this point, get what makes you happy.

Definitely Garmin, specifically the Forerunner

I don’t know what you’re doing with your Ultra, but mine gets barely 2 days and I have the brightness on the lowest settings and no third party apps installed. My Garmin Forerunner gets 4-5 days on a single charge and if I turn off the AOD, that goes up to 15

Yes you can order plenty of bands online. I started with the Venu 2S and swapped to the Forerunner. They are the same size. Forerunner definitely has sportier bands. But I appreciate more activity modes, more training metrics and better battery life.

Forerunner or Enduro for all around "everything." Weights suck with any watch, but that's not specific to any model.

Don't underestimate the lightness of your watch. Especially 19 hours in, I just get tired of the heavy shit on my wrist. I'd go Forerunner or Enduro every time.

Garmin all the way if you are using android The tracking is really quite good and the features arent exactly advanced for a beginner, it walks you through basically everything Ive seen a few forerunners or vivoactive go on sale for slightly over 200. Abit higher than your budget but imo worth it, it will last you even when you are no longer a beginner

I would go Fenix personally if money isn't an issue. Better looking, better build, longer battery, and better (more waterproof) buttons. I really don't like the look of the forerunners so that may also be a big bias for me.

Funnily enough, a lot of people do more than just road running..... a forerunner is not great for swimming, cycling, heavy trail running etc. Ive run multiple half marathons in my fenix no issues as well as doing many other activities without the worry of cracking a plastic watch and having enough battery to do so. I also did say that I was bias towards the look.... but it still remains that I think forerunners look cheap.

Most of the training data is a gimmick anyway. Youll be fine with a venu 3. One of my friends is an ex Olympian Rower. Hè has a venu 3 I have a forerunner. He is in much better shape than I am. The Watch doesnt matter.

Brother gave me a used Garmin Forerunner a year ago as he upgraded. It's been awesome so I'd go second hand/refurbished from reputable source.

get a low digit garmin Forerunner, they do what you are looking for

I had a forerunner and only switched to an Apple Watch when I had to stop running. Garmin is a superior fitness watch. Especially if you are running every day. You can use both but it will screw your daily stats. You get a few more smart features (eg replying to texts)  in n the Garmin if you pair it to an Android phone as Apple deliberately don’t integrate well.  Oh, and the battery lasts days even when exercising a lot (weeks without excercise). 

For a long time, I only ran with my phone and used the Map My Run app, and then switched to Strava. I used live tracking on the apps as I ran, but I didn’t have a watch to see how it was going in real time. Both apps have voiceovers that tell you when you hit a mile and your pace.  I ran my first half marathon and had no clue what my heart rate was, which is what made me get a little more serious afterwards. I got a cheap Garmin forerunner to start with, and moved on from there! So you don’t necessarily need anything, but if you get more serious with it, a watch is nice to have! A running belt like Flipbelt or SPI belt is handy to carry your phone.

...and something good about the Forerunner is that there is one for every budget (unlike other Garmin watch ranges).

the cheaper forerunners and Fenixes are great for this, simple, cheap, reliable and near indestructible

If you want a sports watch with superb training feature and battery runtime, get a Garmin (Forerunner). If you want a smartwatch with some sports features, get an Apple Watch.

I tried a Garmin Forerunner but couldn't figure out how to customize it (and I'm pretty tech savvy). Sold it to a triathlete. I'm a Samsung gal and I love my Samsung Galaxy 6. I easily customized it so that getting to the swim app is just one face swipe and a click. It auto detects my strokes pretty reliably and even though I don't do flip turns it knows when I switch direction and gets the distance right.

Probably Forerunner. I did a whole video on picking your Garmin: https://youtu.be/UuSZG52uOrg

Current/recent Forerunners aren't clunky and are a fine everyday wellness watch.

Forerunner. Any model. Any model from last few years up to now. Great range of watches. Loads out there pre-loved as runners do live to upgrade. FR 745 is vastly underrated / undervalued as a device for the non-elite level runner.

I’ve been double wristing it for about a year and a half since I got into marathon training. Garmin Forerunner on the right, rotation of analog watches on the left. It has completely killed any desire for a digital watch on my “nice watch” arm, and I get a question about it occasionally, but otherwise I don’t really think about it

I tried to switch but in the end I came back to Apple watch (I missed it's smart capabilities, it's nice and polished apps and the way it integrates in the Apple ecosystem). I do wear my Garmin Forerunner on my runs though along with my the Apple Watch.

For someone who is new and cares mostly about sleep tracking and GPS activities it’s honestly all kind of the same. You can run with an Instinct and you can hike with a forerunner. Choose based off of look, price, battery life for your particular activities. A Fenix or Instinct pretty much does it all and with great battery life. Doesn’t really matter in the end unless you care about very specific advanced metrics. I personally think most of the Forerunners are ugly so I gravitate towards Instinct because I’m also not willing to overpay for a Fenix when there’s other brands that cover 90% of a Fenix for half the cost. If you want to research alternatives: If you’re looking at an Instinct, check out Coros Nomad. If you’re looking at a Fenix check out Suunto Race 2 or Vertical 2 or upcoming Coros Apex 4.

Dammit I loved my Forerunner, I pool swam, ran, trail ran, hiked, OWS, you name it, and the watch is awesome. It holds music so I can run with just the watch. Tracking was great. The numbers were big enough to read I had it for 3 years, and the plastic bracket that holds the wrist strap pin broke. I am using my sons Google watch and I curse every time I have to look at it. I keep thinking I'll get used to it and eventually love it. Nope I hate it every day. So now I run with 2 fitness trackers, the Garmin without a strap, in my pocket and my every day Google watch on my wrist. Buy the Garmin

Forerunners are much lighter weight and therefore much more comfortable to wear.

I have a Garmin forerunner and it’s great for fitness tracking and everything else, I wear it all day every day. It will give you yardages to front middle and back, and it’s pretty accurate. I mainly use my range finder though so I don’t often use the watch for golf. I was thinking about making the switch to a more golf forward version and the epix pro is the top of my list. It has unbelievable golf functionality but is also a great fitness watch. The only better “golf feature” garmin is the S62 or similar, but they aren’t as convenient for fitness tracking IMO. Garmin kicks ass though, I highly recommend it. The site DC rainmaker is a good resource, that dude has reviews on every damn garmin product I think

Garmin forerunner for sure. I got myself a Garmin venu 3 and it’s good but there’s a few features the forerunners have that I miss. I use that combined with Strava for community, Garmin connect app for stats, and Runna app for training plans. They all connect together. Runna automatically sends runs to my watch, then the watch sends the stats back to all three apps when I’m done 👍 Edit: it also all sends the data to my Apple health and my Lifesum dieting app which updates my daily calorie intake based on activity level

Fenix or Epix and yes they integrate with iPhones. Some fitness apps will connect to Garmin. If you want a slimmer watch you can also go for the new forerunner.

Apple Watch will do fine for a long time - only got a Garmin last year. However once you go to only having to charge your watch once every two weeks you just can’t go back to Apple. I have a Garmin Fenix (on the $$$ side) but I wear it every day as my normal watch too and have had zero issues making the switch. However there’s heaps in the range, I love accuracy, maps, long battery and lots and lots of data so I can overthink every run - so Fenix it is! The forerunners are great and the vivoactives are a good mid range model. There’s other brands like Suunto, Polar etc. For true accuracy on any wrist watch you may need a chest monitor. But if you really like your Apple Watch I found it pretty good unless you’re somewhere with not much reception

It does not sound like you do running or other outdoor activities, so I d recommend a vivoactive 5 or 6 mate. However, something like a basic Forerunner could also give you all plus some running support for a share of the vivo price. I started my first one with a vivomove HR which only gave me steps and basic gym rep counting (that was 8 years ago) then vivoactive 3 and now a FR965 because I do hike a lot and started running recently plus all the gym.

Go for the forerunner!!! No need for anything else

I’d definitely take a look at the Forerunner line. It’s going to be thinner and lighter than the Fenix, and generally carries most of the same (if not all) features. 

Forerunner if you care about run-specific metrics, the vivoactive 5 lacks them, the vivoactive 6 has some, but forerunner would be the go-to

I had a 255, also a similarly slim wrist, and recently "upgraded" to a Vivoactive 6. Upgrade in quotes because I'm aware a lot of people don't consider that an upgrade, but it definitely was for me, for things I cared about, and ultimately it's only things you care about that matters. For me the biggest problem was how big and heavy the 255 was. I believe it's very similar size/weight to the 265, and the 955 is even larger/heavier (by a bit). I am also primarily a runner, but not a super serious one (one or two half marathons a year, a few weeks/months of half-assed training). The tracking and training features on the dirt cheap Vivoactive is more than enough for me, and I don't miss the more advanced features from the Forerunner at all. In fact, I still don't know what those are. I suspect very few people wearing Forerunners really benefit from the very specialized running features that the more "lifestyle" Garmin watches don't have, and I regretted falling into that trap and getting that Forerunner a few years ago. Either that or this sub is full of hardcore elite runners. On the Vivoactive, the OLED screen is much more beautiful than the MIP, and the new interface is so much more intuitive to use. The size also looks much less comical on my wrist. It's also much lighter, which I didn't really appreciate until getting this one. It "only" has 10 days battery life, but I just charge it when I notice it going below 20% when sat at my desk, and it really doesn't bother me at all. The 255 was purely a training tool. The Vivoactive gives me joy to wear and look at, in addition to being just as good a training tool for me. But that's a very subjective thing. If you don't like the Vivoactive aesthetic, there's also the new Venu 4/4S that looks more premium. So I think it mostly depends on whether you actually need the additional features. The map is the only feature I would care about in the 9xx, but I wasn't going to pay so much for that, when I never do long runs in unfamiliar places without my phone anyways.

Yeah every forerunner I’ve owned has been great. Also touch screens on a running watch are really annoying if you sweat a lot

Apple watch is pretty useless by the time you're trying to add sensors to your workouts. Look at wahoo and coros. Garmin forerunner is awesome if you want to splurge.

As a long time garmin devotee…their current pricing is just inexcusable. I’ve been a forerunner guy forever and it’s honestly a joke.

Almost all of the current lineup. Check the specs section on their product pages. Do you need maps or basic breadcrumb navigation? If maps, then 955 / 965, Fenix / Enduro. Otherwise The Forerunner and Instinct series should be fine.

If you want a cheaper option the Forerunner is good. Had two in a row. Heart rate, could record rides pretty accurately.

My forerunner lasts like 3 days 🫠

Forerunner, and the version depends on your bidget

If you want to get healthy and get phone notifications and *maybe* do music or something, get a Garmin. Instinct 2 (gives music controls but requires a phone for the music itself) or a used Forerunner (I believe they're done of the cheapest models that do on-board music, Spotify, etc.) or what have you. If you want to do smartphone stuff on your wrist and *maybe* get healthy, go Samsung.

Garmin Forerunner + Playrun App from IQ is working for me pretty smoothly.

I had the same debate - bought the venu & ended up returning it for the forerunner & have been beyond happy with my decision. the extra battery life alone makes it so worth it for me, but I also really love the additional metrics & the daily suggested workouts

Get a garmin forerunner best investment I’ve ever made

I really love my Garmin. I use a forerunner which isnt the most stylish model, but battery life is really good and it has a lot of additional activity features I like (e.g. tracking outdoor swimming, biking , training plans etc). They have a paid subscription model but it is in no way necessarily, you get access to most features as part of the watch.

Well, it is not necessary, but definitely it helps. I’d recommend you to buy at least some basic Garmin Forerunner - it doesn’t cost much, has a decent battery life and is light. Regarding AW, for marathon, you should buy ultra, which is a lot of money. Whoops is more an add-on than running tracker. It’s not very comfortable to run with a phone and the watch shows live metrics, which is very useful. So yes, you should.

I have all phone notifications disabled on my Forerunner and on my Garmin Edge. So it works just as you expected - it records my activities and syncs them to Garmin Connect / Strava afterwards.

Had an Apple Watch and currently have Garmin Forerunner Battery life Battery life Battery life Garmin all day.

No smartwatch does swimming or lifting particularly well, imo. The development of swimming software has always been secondary to the watch’s software for biking and running. That said, i do use and find acceptable the swim function on my garmin (I’ve had a swim 2, forerunner, and fenix). I don’t pay attention to stroke detection so I can’t speak to that but it does everything else you’re asking for.  For lifting, paper and pen is still king. I track my lifting workouts on my watch so i get “credit” for them and the workouts help me reach some of the silly little “challenges” garmin has, but it’s too fiddly, prone to errors, and doesn’t provide me the same information I get by writing down my lifts & how I felt. 

if you're trying a lot of new hikes, loading up hikes on the watch is great and I've liked it on my forerunner.

The forerunner is made for runners, it's the obvious choice here.

I have a Whoop band that I really like for tracking activities. It’s not a watch - doesn’t have a face to it at all - but I think it does a good job tracking sleep/activities and horse riding is an option for activity on it. You don’t pay up front for it - it’s a $35/month service fee. So while not a big expense up front, it obviously adds up over time, which is not necessarily for everyone.  I wear a garmin forerunner on my other wrist too. I like that as well, but I have to say I prefer the app and the data provided by the whoop. I basically only use my forerunner for the actual watch face at this point.  Edit: I just checked whoops website and they do offer a $399 up front fee for 2 year membership. 

The forerunner line is geared towards running and triathlon. They are excellent watches. You can get them relatively cheap used.

The forerunner will meet and exceed all your needs except one. What type of integration are you requiring? Basic smart notifications?

I was a Fenix guy until I bought a forerunner. I can't tell the forerunner is on my wrist. I love it.

Fourth for Garmin!!!(I have a forerunner) I love it!

Switched 5 years ago. Echoing the comment here: this is **not** a smartwatch, but a **sports/adventure watch.**  You won’t be reading your emails, getting texts, or calling a Uber, and the screen is nowhere near as responsive as the AW. If you’re looking for a phone one your wrist, Garmin is not for you. But if you’re training for a sports race, anything from a 5k to an ultramarathon, or even just trying to stay generally fit, the load tracking and suggested workout feature alone is worth it. The battery of data signals you get to tailor and improve your training is worth the switch alone, to a Foretunner or Epix or Fenix. Not even getting started on navigation in the mountains, which is really good — if you hike, camp, trail run, cycle, or generally enjoy being out, you will love your Epic or Fenix.

Yes, serious overkill. Vivoactive is good for general health tracking and logging your runs or you could go for something more running specific like a Forerunner. For more all around fitness at a decent price, you can't beat the Vivoactive series.

Whoops focus during exercise is how much strain you are putting your body through.  I’d recommend getting a Garmin forerunner if you want a fully dedicated running watch! 

Garmin forerunner, Fenix, epix, Enduro. And nothing else matters

Basically any modern smartwatch will do this. Your axes of choice are ecosystem, battery life, and price. The basic Apple Watch will do what you want, but because you’re using the GPS, the battery will be dead mid-day. I do not recommend any Apple Watch but the Ultra for an athlete or active person because of the awful battery life. If you want something cheaper than the Ultra, I’d look at the Coros Pace and cheaper Garmin Forerunner options. They’ll both cost about half and are really good products with roughly 5-10x battery life vs the basic Apple Watch.

Oh wow I didn’t know the Ultra 2 also had that issue. Honestly after getting a garmin watch, I don’t think I can go back.

The Fenix is much heavier than the Forerunner. I had a Fenix and switched to Forerunner because of the weight.

Whichever forerunner is within your budget is usually best if running is the priority

Garmin forerunner, whichever one you want they’re all good

I have the Fenix 8 amoled which I use for running and hiking, the sapphire glass is great so it doesn’t scratch and I love having topo maps standard. Cons is the price. Forerunner is a good option if price is an issue.

I just got a forerunner garmin after my Apple Watch couldn’t last a day. if you can, I’d definitely recommend getting one, maybe even with the holidays coming up. It tracks my sleep, workouts, stress - a whole lot more than my old Apple Watch!

I have an AWU: it’s a smart watch w/ mostly useless rudimentary fitness tracking metrics that don’t match at all with what training peaks, intervals, Strava, or Garmin Connect give for metrics & stats. Also, battery lasts less than 24 hours if you actually use your watch for tracking rides. I had a Garmin Forerunner: It was a legit fitness tracker that has useful metrics that align w/ 3rd party training platforms and also has some basic useful smart watch features. Seamless integration w/ Garmin Edge bike computer stats as well. When I upgrade watches, I’m going back to Garmin because I prioritize the fitness features more than the often annoying & useless smart watch novelty features that Apple caters towards for the general public. What do you prioritize? Novelty smart watch features (Apple), or useful training metrics (Garmin).

Garmin has the best batteries, forerunner as others said

I used my Garmin Forerunner and it was perfect. Only charged once after 6 days.

Fenix 7. Skip the screen on the 8 and go with one that holds up better in bright sunlight. HOWEVER, if these are truly your only options I’d say forerunner. Slightly less rugged, but has everything you need for a little less than Fenix series. Doesn’t have a flashlight though

If price isn't an issue check the Garmin line. They have watches for runners, climbers, n daily life. I'm not a runner but I got the forerunner since it matched well with my life style. Just pick the one that u like the most based on its features. Battery life is from 7 days to 15 depending on the watch n use. If price is an issue get the lower end ones, less feats but still very nice battery life

I use Strava and the Whithings app, paired with one of their smart scales and a few add ons. Apple Health can pull from both, and while I don't care about my daily steps (for example) they automatically pull from my watch (forerunner) into the various apps as well.

The Forerunner would be a watch I’d recommend for sure. There are a number of different models, so make sure you do your research. It also depends on how much you want to spend.

Depending on how much you want to interact with your watch, the lack of buttons on a Venu might be frustrating. For that reason a Forerunner might be better as you can lock the touch screen during runs and use the buttons.

Can't go wrong with Garmin imho. I've had a fenix and a couple of forerunners, and they've all worked great.

If you move all day, whoop will track it. Whether or not you are doing an activity whoop will count any increase in heart rate towards your "strain", and will give you sleep recommendations and adjust recovery based on that. The automatic activity tracking and auto sleep tracking are great. It's the most hands off device out there. Garmin only adds load when you are tracking an activity, so it can miss a lot if it's not a planned workout. But when you do track activities, it gives you much more information. Whoop is not a good activity tracker. It's a health tracker. You can really only see your heart rate zones for the activity. You can't see progression over time or compare it to previous workouts. For that you need garmin or Strava or something else. From what I can tell, Garmin is amazing at activities and good enough with health, while whoop does great with health but is poor for activities. Not sure if this helps, but it seems like there is no perfect option - Im going to have to make this same decision once my subscription is up.

Get the forerunner it’s definitely more versatile and does the swim as well as the swim 2.. I have owned a Garmin for 20 yrs — have the Fenix 8 now

I have been trying to get going as a runner for a few years but kept getting injured... anyway I've had a Garmin Forerunner for a few years as well and I am happy with it. It's useful as an everyday watch but also has built in training programs. I'm going through one right now for a half marathon in May and it's going well. I did six miles yesterday (the farthest I've ever ran in my life) and I feel great today. It is durable, has great battery life, and for the money is a pretty good bargain imo. I would suggest it to anyone.

Three things to consider that comes to my mind. 1. If you are only looking to track runs(no use for daily health metrics) then you can just wear the running watch during the run, and then put the watch away after you are done. That is what I do with my Garmin Forerunner. I do my run with the watch and then after I come back home the Forerunner gets turned off and put away. 2. Alternative option is to just use your phone's GPS data to track run data. Personally I tried this method, and I wasn't a fan because the phone GPS would struggle to find me sometimes and I'd end up with a weird run distance and times. Non watch style fitness tracking device would likely also have this issue where the GPS function is either non-existent or not as accurate as the watch style running watches. 3. Lastly, I'd just run by time and effort without any tracking if you are just starting out. Time on feet will likely matter more for your progress than accurate distance or speed measures. Set a timer on your phone and run until the timer goes off, then turn around and run back to the starting point. Slowly increase the time on the timer over as you get better. This is more or less what I did when starting out, and I still use this method when going for an easy run.

If you don’t wanna get a dedicated computer like the Garmin edge. Then get a forerunner or fenix.

For concept 2 you can use the forerunner to broadcast HR to a PM5, and have Ergdata sync to Garmin Connect. The HR data works well even off the wrist (I used to find that wrist HR sucked for rowing). I also broadcast HR to my cycling computer.

I use a Garmin Forerunner watch, and it displays heart rate while tracking activity. The reading is pretty visible to me even with slightly foggy goggles but ymmv. They have a lot of models with this capability, so maybe you can find one with a bigger screen. The default heart rate screen also has a colored Zone indicator, if that's easier to see & you're not looking for exact numbers https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=kbOXNev7NS4DQcc3IjAV49

I use Garmin forerunner watch, sync Strava with Garmin Connect and sync Komoot with Strava. It works like a charm.

I have a Garmin Edge bike computer and chest based heart rate because I like to see my speed on the handlebars rather than having to look at my watch. It also navigates for me on more adventurous rides and race courses I'm unfamiliar with. For local social rides I just track on my Garmin Forerunner watch.

A Garmin head unit. You could buy used to reduce the cost. I do ride wearing my forerunner watch, however it is purely for heartrate (linkeded to display on headunit) In reality you could buy the headunit and an inexpensive chest heartrate monitor such as magene. I do however like that my watch provides lots of other daily data such as resting heartrate, steps and so forth. There is benefit to headunit + basic level sports watch.

Runs are the same concept as rides. Personally, I use purpose-built devices to record: Garmin Edge bike computer, Garmin Forerunner watch (they also both do navigation, connect to heart rate sensors, watch does music, etc.). When I stop an activity and hit save, it's uploaded to Strava before I can even get the garage door open. I don't want to carry my phone on a run, and I don't want to run down the battery on all-day rides.

Obviously a Fenix 8 Micro LED. For real though, Fenix/Epix watches will give you full golf functionality minus a feature or two which are reserved for the golf specific watches. If you are budget conscious I would look for a Fenix 7/epix 2 series watch. If you have money to spend, a Fenix 8 will be great for everything you can imagine. Forerunner watches do have some golf features but they are dumbed down a bit to basic distance to green and score keeping.

>Its a Vivoactive by another name. ironically i've been looking at the FR series to upgrade my old vivoactive. lack of altimeter is deal breaker for me.

I second this. Exact same use case run 3x/week and weight train 3-4x/week. I found the epix pro gen 2 sapphire to be best utility and bang for buck. I tried the FR but was too run focused and I preferred the more tactical look. The fenix 8 was nice but at double the price with same sensor technology it didn’t felt worth it. You do forgo the mic and voice features but I didn’t need it and didn’t want a true smart watch but prioritized a fitness forward watch. 3 months in and I love my Epix pro gen 2 47mm

Garmin - They have a lot of watches at different price points. There is built-in GPS and the battery lasts for several days, unlike a smart watch that you typically need to charge every night. The Garmin app easily syncs with other fitness apps, if that's important to you. If you have a smaller wrist, go for the "S" models that will look and fit better.